After winning the Mal Meninga medal for the Canberra Raiders player of the year last night, Shillington wants to taste Penrith Panthers blood on Saturday night.

The Canberra front-rower continued his outstanding season by picking up the top Raiders award at the Southern Cross Club in Woden last night.

It came 24 hours after he was named NRL prop of the year in Sydney on Tuesday.

He is intent on chasing more glory, starting with the Panthers on Saturday.

''The Panthers will take a fair bit of stopping so that's going to be a big task,'' Shillington said.

''It's semi finals footy now and Penrith have a good pack so it's important for Tommy [Learoyd-Lahrs] and I to lift into another gear.''

Yesterday was also a big day for coach David Furner - his ability to turn the young Raiders around and steer them to the finals has been rewarded with a spot on Tim Sheens' Kangaroos team as assistant coach for the Four Nations later this year.

Despite battling a hip flexor injury, Shillington said he would be fit to play in the opening round of the finals.

The Raiders bookend did not train with the top squad yesterday.

Instead he trained in the gym by himself to give his troublesome hip some rest.

He could require surgery at the end of the season, but he was adamant he would be able to play for however long the Raiders remain in premiership contention.

MENINGA MEDAL

16 points: David Shillington

15 points:Terry Campese

13 points: Daniel Vidot

11 points: Tom Learoyd-Lahrs,

Trevor Thurling,

Jarrod Croker

NRL Coach's award:

Daniel Vidot

Rookie of the year:

Sam Mataora

Fred Daly Memorial Clubman of the Year: Dane Tilse

Gordon McLucas Memorial Award for Junior Representative Player of the Year:

Jack Wighton

Toyota Cup Player's Player:

Mark Nicholls

Toyota Cup Coach's Award:

Sam Williams

Geoff Caldwell Encouragement Award for Education:

Mark Appleton

For more on this story, including details of how close the battle for the medal was between Shillington and Terry Campese, see the print edition of today's Canberra Times.