Former Boston Celtics great and NBA Finals MVP Paul Pierce has a message for Canberra and the Sydney Roosters ahead of the NRL grand final.

“Don’t be afraid to fail.”

Both clubs are playing for history at ANZ Stadium on Sunday night.

The Raiders are gunning for their first premiership in 25 years, while the Roosters are looking to become the first club to win back-to-back titles since Brisbane in 1992-93.

Pierce spent 20 years in the NBA and was named the best player in the finals when the Celtics won the title in 2008.

He said there was no secret to success in deciders.

“I’m not sure there is a secret, but a lot of it is a lot of hard work. It’s not being afraid to fail,” Pierce said.

“A lot of times people look at when you’re unsuccessful or considered a failure, I never looked at like that, every time I didn’t succeed in big games I looked at it as learning.

“As I got older and better, it was a learning experience until I was able to pull through in clutch moments and reach the mountain top.

“You go through certain things in your sport where it doesn’t always go right and you learn from it and you get better, and that’s what I was able to do throughout my career.”

The grand final will be Pierce’s first NRL game and he’s leaning towards supporting Canberra because they have the same colours as Boston.

“It’s a different mindset you’ve got to have to play rugby, we’re used to American football where you’ve got pads and helmets, these guys do pretty much the same thing without all that,” Pierce said.

“I love the action, I think it’s great. Hats off to the guys who put it all on the line each and every night, sacrifice their bodies in the wear and tear, it’s awesome.”