West Belconnen Warriors junior rugby league player Jamieson Norris was facing a 12-hour round trip just to play in his under-13 zone two grand final on Saturday.
But Norris says "it's the footy grand final - of course I'm going to drive six hours to get here".
He's certainly happy he did, scoring a try and winning the man of the match award as his side beat the Queanbeyan Blues in a 24-22 thriller.
Seiffert Oval was a hive of activity as the Canberra Region Rugby League junior grand finals returned to the game's spiritual home over the weekend.
Norris had to race back home from a gymnastics competition in Bendigo for the grand final before heading straight back across the border after the game.
Norris trains every day for different sports but his mum Jacqui thinks he has found a home in rugby league in his first season.
"I had to go down there for gymnastics, and it's the footy grand final - of course I'm going to drive six hours to get here," Norris said.
West Belconnen shot out of the blocks with two quick tries before the Blues clawed their way back and levelled things up at 18-all with 10 minutes remaining.
The Warriors crossed with five minutes left to take the lead and Queanbeyan soon hit back with the clock ticking down.
Norris struggled to find the words to describe how he felt waiting for the Blues' goal kicker to line up his conversion attempt.
But the kick sailed wide and gifted West Belconnen the premiership, with Norris named man of the match.
"No words for it, it was an amazing opportunity and everything. I was happy with how I played," Norris said.
"Amazing. I'm just excited and it's the best feeling."
Meanwhile, the Belconnen Sharks broke a seven-year junior title drought by winning four of the five grand finals they contested over the weekend.
The club's junior trophy cabinet has undergone a major facelift after a bumper weekend for the next crop of Sharks.
CANBERRA REGION RUGBY LEAGUE JUNIOR GRAND FINALS
Under 10s
Zone 3: Belconnen United Sharks 42 d Bungendore Orange 26
Player of the Match: Blake Kemp (Belconnen United Sharks)
Zone 2: Crookwell Green Devils 30 d West Belconnen Blue 28
Player of the Match: Levi Woods (Crookwell Green Devils)
Zone 1: Goulburn Stockmen Blue 32 d South Tuggeranong Red 24
Player of the Match: Jamie Cowling (Goulburn Stockmen)
Under 11s
Zone 3: Bungendore Tigers Orange 40 d Belconnen United White 12
Player of the Match: Henry Meggit (Bungendore Tigers Orange)
Zone 2: Belconnen United Black 38 d Crookwell Green Devils 24
Player of the Match: Sam Chapman (Belconnen United Black)
Zone 1: Goulburn Stockmen Blue 32 d Valley Dragons Red 24
Player of the Match: Mitchell Ezzy (Goulburn Stockmen Blue)
Under 12s
Zone 2: West Belconnen Blue 24 d Queanbeyan United Blue 22
Player of the Match: Jamieson Norris (West Belconnen Blue)
Zone 1: Woden Weston Rams Blues 24 d Tuggeranong Buffaloes 22
Player of the Match: Grace Lyons (Woden Weston Rams Blue)
U13s
Zone 2: Belconnen United Black 30 d Gungahlin Bulls Silver 6
Player of the Match: Jye Smith (Belconnen United Black)
Zone 1: Belconnen United White 24 d Goulburn Stockmen 22.
Player of the Match: Harley Young (Belconnen United White).
U16s:
Zone 1: Queanbeyan Blues 18 d North Canberra Bears 16.
Player of the Match: Jordan Williams (Queanbeyan Blues).
U15s:
Zone 2: South Tuggeranong Knights 26 d West Belconnen Blue 22.
Player of the Match: Kye Pearson (South Tuggeranong Knights).
U14s:
Zone 2: Woden Weston Rams 20 d Yass Magpies 10.
Player of the Match: Joshua Jenkins (Woden Weston Rams).
Zone 1: Valley Dragons Red 26 d Goulburn Stockmen Blue 12.
Player of the Match: Tyrel Kimori-Edmond (Valley Dragons Red).
U15s:
Zone 1: Woden Weston Rams 38 d Queanbeyan United Blues 20.
Player of the Match: Junior Tupou.
U17s Girls: Gungahlin Bulls 42 d Goulburn Stockmen 20.
Player of the Match: Emily Hoffman (Gungahlin Bulls).
U16s:
Zone 2: Valley Dragons 40 d West Belconnen Warriors 24.
Player of the Match: Tyson Kelly (Valley Dragons).
