Penrith want fans to share glory and receive JJ Giltinan Shield at home

Penrith may ask the NRL to present the JJ Giltinan Shield before the first final rather than on foreign turf as they close in on the minor premiership.

Penrith’s Nathan Cleary with Brayden McGrady at training on Monday. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Penrith could lock up the minor premiership as early as Friday but if the Panther have their way, they may not get their hands on the JJ Giltinan Shield for another fortnight as they urge the NRL to reward their fans by presenting it on the opening weekend of the finals.

The Panthers only have to beat North Queensland in Townsville to secure the third minor premiership in their history – so confident are some that Wikipedia on Monday had already updated Penrith’s site to grant them the honour.

When it comes to presenting the JJ Giltinan Shield, the NRL has traditionally taken into ­account the club’s stance on when they want it handed over.

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The last thing Penrith wants is to receive one of the game’s most celebrated trophies on foreign territory – after the Cowboys, they finish the regular season with an away game against the Bulldogs, meaning they won’t be home again until the finals get underway.

As a result, Penrith chief executive Brian Fletcher raised the prospect of presenting the shield immediately before the club hosts the first finals game in their history at Panthers Stadium.

“It’s up to the NRL but it makes sense that you would do it at Penrith – the first time we have ever played a semi-final at Penrith,” Fletcher said. “You could do it before the game with a heap of Penrith people there.”

The Panthers are in the midst of a 13-game winning streak that has given them a three-point lead over Melbourne heading into the penultimate round of the regular season.

They have top spot at their mercy and it would take an extraordinary dip in form for them to finish anywhere other than minor premier.

That brings with it financial rewards, although the exact amount remains a mystery due to the cost cuts that are being thrashed out at head office.

Fletcher implored the NRL to look somewhere other than prizemoney when it comes to making financial savings across the game, cognisant of the need to reward the players for one of the most impressive seasons in recent rugby league history.

The NRL, however, may have no choice. Chief executive Andrew Abdo has been charged with slashing up to $50m from head office expenses and their expectation is that prizemoney might be reduced this season.

The minor premiers are traditionally paid $100,000, half of which is shared with the players. A further $400,000 is awarded to the grand final winners, with 50 per cent of that money divided among the playing group.

Meanwhile, Cronulla have put off contract talks with coach John Morris and star half Shaun Johnson until the end of the season as they attempt to give the pair space to focus on the club’s tilt at the premiership.

Morris and Johnson each have 12 months remaining on their respective deals with the club, the pair having been the major players behind the Shark locking up a finals berth with their win over the Warriors on Sunday night.

In Johnson’s case, the Sharks are playing a dangerous game. While the club is considered an outsider to play off for the premiership, should they go on a run they would be playing right up until grand final day on October 25.

That would mean the Sharks would be left with six days to lock Johnson away or risk him heading to the open market on November 1. Johnson has previously flirted with rugby union but it is understood his preference would be to remain at Cronulla and the Sharks have some salary cap freedom from 2022, when the likes of Josh Dugan and Matt Moylan come off contract.