It’s the type of green that might work this week against Canberra.
If centre Joey Leilua doesn’t overcome a calf problem, the Raiders will be the most-inexperienced grand final team in 22 years when they face defending premiers the Sydney Roosters next Sunday at ANZ Stadium.
Only Leilua has featured in a decider, when he was a rookie in the Roosters’ heartbreaking 2010 loss to St George Illawarra.
Not since veteran Matt Geyer played for Melbourne in their 2006 loss to Brisbane has a side been so green on grand final day.
A decision is not expected on Leilua’s availability until Monday at the earliest.
Coach Ricky Stuart names his 21-man squad on Tuesday.
But should Leilua be ruled out, it will leave Stuart’s side without a player to have experienced NRL grand final day.
The last team to challenge for the trophy with all 17 players making their maiden grand final appearance was the triumphant Newcastle team in 1997.
The only caveat is that breakout second-rower John Bateman has won two of four Super League deciders with Wigan, including last year.
Stuart, of course, the Raiders’ champion halfback, played in four grand finals for the club, including their most-recent premiership in 1994.
His wisdom might prove key in the lead-up to the match, as will the advice of assistant coach and former Storm prop Brett White.
White played in four deciders with Melbourne from 2006-’09, including the two they won but were later stripped of due to salary-cap cheating.
But he remembers clearly where the Storm had failed 13 years ago when they lost against the Broncos, before rebounding to defeat Manly the following year.
“We didn’t get it right. We tried to stay too focused. We didn’t embrace it. I think I learnt the most that year,” White told AAP of their 15-8 defeat.
“You gotta really enjoy it. It’s an exciting time.
“And 2007, that was the lesson we learnt. We really enjoyed that year. I don’t know whether I can talk about those years, but that’s what I learnt from that first one.”
In contrast, the Roosters are well versed on the intricacies of grand final week.
Twelve of the 17 men who knocked Melbourne out in their preliminary final on Saturday were a part of their memorable run last year.
A 13th, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, returns after serving his one-game suspension, while a 14th, co-captain Jake Friend, is also a chance of coming back from injury.
Champion halfback Cooper Cronk is set to play his ninth grand final, equalling Roosters great Ron Coote with the third most in history.
And the tricolours will also have the added advantage of being at home the entire week, while the Raiders travel from the nation’s capital on Wednesday.
White urged the Raiders to simply enjoy the build-up.
“The boys are wonderful when it’s time to switch on with training,” he said.
“Enjoying each other’s company, we’ll really rely on that sort of stuff, which we’ve been doing all year. We’ll rely on that this week, keep it as normal as possible.”
