The JJ Giltinan Shield is significant, but fans prioritize the premiership title ultimately.
The JJ Giltinan Shield, presented to the minor premiers after the regular season, is a big prize in rugby league, but the reality is that the focus of fans and history is the premiership title itself.
You only have to look at the 1989 season when South Sydney won the minor premiership before going down in both final games to Balmain and then the Raiders.
Souths finished with the wooden spoon the following season.
It is an important reminder as the Raiders continue to surge towards the minor premiership with six games, plus the bye, ahead of them.