It is the dream of every NRL player to win a Grand Final and get their hands - or fingers - on a premiership ring.
It is the ultimate memento from a Grand Final victory, and only the 17 players in the lineup for the game, plus coaches, are able to receive one.
It is made more unique with a special design for each Grand Final, with famous individuals given the honour of designing the ring.
This year, an NRL Immortal not only gets to design the ring, but will also receive a ring as a gift.
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Ron Coote to receive Premiership ring in 2024 Grand Final
Ron Coote, South Sydney legend and recent inductee as an NRL Immortal, has been given the privilege of designing the Premiership ring for the victors of the 2024 NRL Grand Final between the Melbourne Storm and the Penrith Panthers.
According to The Daily Telegraph, the two-time Premiership winner will assist in creating the special design for the rings this year; it is valued at $10,000, encrusted with two carats of diamonds on each side, and also has an image of a young Coote.
In an NRL first, Coote will also be gifted his own version of the ring due to his recent Immortal status, as well as a fire at his Lake Conjola home destroying the memorabilia from his career.
"It is a great piece and I’d be very proud to wear it," he told The Daily Telegraph.
Several high profile personalities have designed the ring in the past, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese designing the ring last year, former NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller, and legendary commentator Ray Warren.
The rings are designed by Sydney company Affinity Diamonds.
Speaking to Wide World of Sports last year, Affinity founder Sam Rahme said the rings were numbered 1 to 17, meaning only the 17 players in the matchday squad and the head coach will receive a ring.
This is because he does not want to see club officials or executives with a ring.
"Being on the coaching staff as I was at the Sea Eagles, I'd see some club directors wearing the ring. I thought it was wrong," he said.
"If you don't have a number 1 to 17, you didn't play."
Why is there a Rabbitohs and Roosters logo on the 2024 premiership ring?
Eagle eyed fans watching a TikTok video of the behind the scenes making of the ring noticed an unusual feature on them, with the logos of the South Sydney Rabbitohs and Sydney Roosters featured on the inside.
@affinitydiamonds Taking you behind the scenes of the The Making of the 2024 NRL Premiership Grand final ring straight from our Affinity Diamonds onsite workshop ✨ We are privileged to have had 2024 Immortal Ron Coote design this years Premiership Ring! #nrl #nrltiktok #nrlhighlights #nrlgrandfinal #nrlring ♬ Fighters - OctaSounds
It caused some confusion, as neither side is in the Grand Final, and could be seen as odd to have the logos of a team not in the big dance featuring on the famous premiership ring.
However, when looking at Ron Coote's career it makes sense.
He played 148 times for Souths, and 109 times for the Roosters in his glittering career, winning a premiership with each.
Given the ring is a tribute to him, it makes sense to feature references to both of his club sides on the ring, even if they aren't in the Grand Final this year.
