Elliott Whitehead hadn’t even watched an NRL grand final until age 19, but on Sunday he’ll fulfil a lifelong dream by running out in a first-grade decider.

One of four Englishman in Canberra’s squad, Whitehead typifies the Raiders’ run to their first grand final in a quarter of a century.

Because while the Raiders have been waiting 25 years to return to a grand final, Whitehead has spent 29 years just wanting to play one anywhere in the world.

Some 277 games after making his debut for Bradford in early 2009, Sunday’s decider against the Sydney Roosters will be Whitehead’s first in either the NRL or English Super League.

His career has also included a three-year stint in France with the Catalans, before making the move to Australia’s capital in 2016.

“When that final whistle went (against South Sydney) on Friday night I couldn’t believe it. I was a bit speechless really,” Whitehead told AAP.

“I have been in a semi-final once in Super League and obviously 2016 here.

“It was something I always wanted to do. Hopefully we can go out and get the win and make it a bit more special.”

The back-rower admits he wasn’t an NRL watcher as a child back in England.

Time zones meant games were on too early in the morning, and his first memory of watching a decider is Manly’s flogging of Melbourne in 2008.

Meanwhile, Whitehead’s family support will also typify that of the shock-factor around Canberra’s season.

While his partner and close friends will be at ANZ Stadium, his mother will remain in England watching from afar with her family.

Her reason: She didn’t think the Raiders would make the big one.

“I asked my mum to come out but she couldn’t get time off work,” Whitehead said.

“She’s just on holiday at the moment, somewhere in Spain. She’s been out there and said: ‘I didn’t think you would make it, so I booked a holiday.’

“I was, like, cheers mum, it’s good for confidence. But she will be watching somewhere in London with my nan and sister.”

In fairness, she’s not alone as the Raiders were considered more likely to take the wooden spoon than the title by most bookies at the start of the season.

“A lot of you probably didn’t believe we would get there but we had the belief we could,” Whitehead said