So you ask Tom Ross about how many times he's been on the wrong end of a grand final result.
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"During the week I said to my missus and my family I don't even want to talk about the past and my grand final record, so I'll probably steer away from talking about that," Ross smiled.
Now the Gungahlin Eagles prop has a chance to clinch his first triumph in red and black in the John I Dent Cup decider against the Canberra Royals at Viking Park on Saturday.
He gets to do it with a Wallabies legend in Matt Giteau - after their first meeting at training left Ross feeling "like a little fanboy" - and a close mate in Mack Hansen, a serial pest [but more on that later] who reckons he's lost about nine deciders in a row.
It is Ross' second grand final in the space of a month after the ACT Brumbies claimed the Super Rugby AU crown on home soil in September.
MORE RUGBY UNION NEWS
The chance to walk away with two titles this season is not bad for someone who had lost something like six rugby union grand finals coming through the ranks at Gungahlin and Daramalan College.
Alongside him basically every step of the way is Eagles and Brumbies fullback Hansen, with the boyhood mates determined to make the most of the club's first grand final appearance in 13 years.
"I've played for Eagles since I was about nine, I've always been destined to play first grade for Gungahlin Eagles. They've always been my home," Ross said.
"I've always wanted to play first grade for Gungahlin, I've made a lot of special bonds with the blokes there. The culture there has been top notch, and I love heading down to the nest on a Tuesday and Thursday, and running out on a Saturday.
"Mack and I have played in plenty of big games together, it'll be pretty special to run out alongside him. Even though he's one of the biggest pests on the team, I love spending all my time with him."
He means that too. The bit about being a pest, that is.
That's why Ross' press conference on Thursday morning was interrupted by the sight of Brumbies scrumhalf Ryan Lonergan attacking Hansen with a shoe, because the latter had stolen one from him.
"He's still just salty about the [semi-final loss unfortunately, no consequences there. He'll calm down, I'll be the bigger man and leave it there," Hansen joked.
"He found the slide I took. [Bayley Kuenzle] took the other one, so I'm sure he's getting a belting at the moment."
Kuenzle and Hansen will lock horns this week. Ross jokes Kuenzle is "in trouble" if he finds him at the bottom of a ruck, with the flyhalf joining Connal McInerney, Tom Cusack and Andy Muirhead in Royals colours.
Hansen is one of three Brumbies drafted into Gungahlin's ranks alongside Ross and Issak Fines, while Giteau and James Dargaville feature in the backs.
"It's made my job so much easier, playing with such great players. Everyone has had stints in Brumbies here or there. It's made it a lot of fun to play," Hansen said.
"More than anything it takes pressure off me, it makes me able to play a free-flowing game of footy. Those guys can make the big decisions and work us around. It's given me a free licence to do whatever I want.
"Both teams are going to come out firing. They're a completely different team to when we played them last time.
"I've grown up watching a lot of grand finals with my dad coaching down here, to go back and win it for the boys would be a great feeling."
JOHN I DENT CUP GRAND FINAL DAY
Saturday at Viking Park: John I Dent Cup - Canberra Royals v Gungahlin Eagles on field one, 3.15pm.
ACT Women Premier XVs - Uni-Norths Owls v Canberra Royals on field one, 5.30pm.
Spence Cup [second grade] - Gungahlin Eagles v Tuggeranong Vikings on field one, 1.20pm.
Colts - Queanbeyan Whites v Canberra Royals on field one, 11am.
Third grade - Gungahlin Eagles v Wests Lions on field two, 11.40am.
Fourth grade - Queanbeyan Whites v Wests Lions on field two, 9.30am.