It's not like Saturday night's match against the Parramatta Eels is a grand final, but the build up has felt like one for White. The jersey he will lead the Raiders out in for his 195th NRL game represents his grand finale.

For him, it's the frustration of not getting a chance at St George as a junior, stuck behind two of Australia's great bookends at the time, Luke Bailey and Jason Ryles.

It's the sweat and tears, but mainly the blood of opposition props - like Steve Price and Ben Ross - who he infamously popped on the chin, in loyal - maybe brash - defence of his teammates.

It's fighting back from a season-ending knee reconstruction in 2012. It's fighting on in memory of his deceased grandfather, putting his hand up to play for Ireland in the 2013 World Cup.

The NRL has left him with the heartbreak of two grand final losses with Melbourne in 2006 and 2008, but the record books put a line through the two premierships he won with the Storm in 2007 and 2009 due to the club's salary cap scandal.

So surely, White thought, a bloke who's battled his way from Jindabyne to play eight Origins for NSW and three Tests for Australia, could have the final dignity of hanging onto his last NRL jersey?

That was until White met Mitchell Keegan on Friday.

Keegan lives on the Central Coast, but every weekend of a Raiders home game, he packs the Commodore with his two kids, both under two, his wife, and he drives the eight-hour return journey for 80 minutes of football. The 28-year-old has done it for six years.

"It's been tough for the fans this year, there hasn't been a great deal to cheer about," White said. "I must admit, when there was talk about us giving away our jumpers, I thought 'that's the final jumper I'll play in and I have to hand it over to someone?'. I wasn't really comfortable with it, that jumper would mean a lot to me.

"But meeting fans like Mitchell, now it makes me proud that someone like that is going to receive my jumper. It's our chance to give back to the people who dedicate so much to support us.

"That's what the club is all about. If we stick together the club will grow and prosper."

Season 2014 has been the leanest home season in Raiders history. Even a win against Parramatta on Saturday would only draw the club even with the inaugural Raiders of 1982, who finished with the wooden spoon.

Crowds have averaged 9236 this year, the worst since the move to Canberra Stadium in 1990. You have to go back to 1987, when the Raiders played at Queanbeyan's suburban Seiffert Oval, to see less action at the turnstiles.

But 451 Raiders fans turned up for every home battle this season. As a reward, 17 of them, picked from a draw, will have their names embroidered onto the jerseys of a Raiders player against the Eels. Then, after the match, the Raiders players will take the jerseys off and hand it to them.

Jack Wighton to Brooke Wemyss. Jarrod Croker to Ron Bartier. Anthony Milford to Jarrad Rees. Josh Papalii to Timothy Keed. The Raiders want them to know they're part of the team.

"I can't believe it," Keegan said. "Brett White's the captain, it's his last game. He wears his heart on his sleeve and he'll wear my name on his chest."

White's come to terms with it. He was a fan once, too.

"I remember clearly my first ever Raiders game. I remember sitting on the grass hill at Canberra Stadium in amazement watching football at its best. They're great childhood memories, so to come here and play my last game at this very ground is special.

"I remember getting my first Raiders jumper as a kid. I was about seven, I used to love wearing it around.

"I've also got footy cards. I actually got [Raiders coach] Ricky Stuart to sign one when I was a kid. I've given them to my kids now. It means a lot to finish my career here."

Fans ride the fortunes of their teams. Over 33 seasons it's been a rollercoaster at the Raiders.

Take Jeff Boag, who will have his name on Bill Tupou's jersey. The 60-year-old can watch a Raiders win any time he likes, given he has a recording of every Raiders win ever televised.

Boag has missed only three Raiders home games in their history, including the very first one, a 33-4 loss to the Wests Magpies in 1982.

"About 10 years ago, I went to a 30th school reunion and missed a Saturday night game against Cronulla. Then three years ago I was over in Europe and missed a game against Parramatta," Boag said.

"I went through the days when they were losing all their games. I've been through the really hard times and I'd watch all three grades being flogged all the way through. Having lean seasons is part and parcel of the game."

So why are people walking away from the games? Is it cost? Is in performance? Is it the weather?

"My wife thinks it's too expensive," Boag says. "It's a little bit obsessive. It's a habit and everybody understands it. I'm looked upon with a little bit of pity by the family, but that's their issue, not mine.

"Most fans are transient, not everyone can come all the time. I've sat with a lot of people who have now passed away; fans turn over. I've sat with other people who've had season tickets from the first year. Most of those people are in their 80s."

Ron Kropp, 63, will have his name on the jersey of hooker Glen Buttriss. He won't have a bar of the excuses for fans not turning up.

"I missed two games when they were at Seiffert Oval. One was when Mal Meninga broke his arm, one when I was in hospital ... just a minor operation on the wrong day.

"It's in my blood, I wouldn't miss a game.

"People are very finicky. Things go bad and they say stuff 'em. But as soon as they start winning a few games, everybody's back to watch them. It seems to be the culture in Canberra; they'll back a winner but won't come to watch someone who might be struggling for a while.

"Every team goes through it, even the teams on top now. Easts years ago couldn't win a game, now they can't be beaten. They'll turn it around. When's the question.

"You got to be there through the bad times so the good times are better."

White will remain at the Raiders in some capacity next season. He insisted on it when he told Stuart mid-season of his decision to retire.

"I've been with successful clubs, I know what they're built off and that's what's being built here. I want to be part of the success when it comes. So whether it's cutting oranges or whatever, I want to be part of it."

White returns from a groin injury to play against Parramatta. He wouldn't come back, he says, if he wasn't fit. He wouldn't want to let down the team.

"I've spent two weeks preparing for this. I've been able to do a bit of extra work. It's funny, it's been like training for this big event coming up. It feels so much like a grand final. I personally feel so much build up for it. I just want to enjoy it.

"We spoke this week about the importance of finishing the year off with three wins in a row and how much that'll boost the spirits of people in the off-season and give them something to look forward to."

White just wants to finish with the memory of a win, something no one can take away.