Frank Rynehart has been to every NSWRL/ARL/NRL grand final since 1962.

But the Eleebana man will watch the Penrith Panthers and South Sydney Rabbitohs rumble for the trophy from home this weekend, with the COVID-19 pandemic stopping him one match short of attending 60 grand finals in a row.

The 75-year-old fell in love with rugby league as a child, playing in Newcastle and watching the Western Suburbs Rosellas first grade team with his dad, Bill.

Bill and young Frank would travel on an old bus with some of the Rosellas players to watch away games at Cessnock and Kurri Kurri, with the return journey made longer by the usual handful of stops for the tired footballers to jump off and have a quick beer or two on the way home.

In 1962, a 17-year-old Frank found himself at the Sydney Cricket Ground watching the St George Dragons beat Western Suburbs Magpies in the first NSWRL grand final he witnessed.

He returned the following year and saw the match that ended with the famous embrace between opponents Norm Provan and Arthur Summons - the likeness of the mud-covered titans of the game arm-in-arm that day has become the NRL trophy and a symbol of Australian sport.

Mr Rynehart, a Knights supporter, told the Herald that Newcastle's win over Manly in 1997 and Canberra's victory against Balmain in 1989 - both matches going down to the wire - were the best grand finals he had seen.

"That [1989] was when Canberra snuck home against Balmain," he said.

"We were sitting right behind the try line where Chicka Ferguson scored the try and Mal Meninga kicked up half of the Sydney Football Stadium."

Perhaps unsurprisingly, when asked to name the best player he's seen run out on the final day of the season, Mr Rynehart immediately replies: "without a doubt, Andrew Johns".

"He's a magician," he said.

"I've been to the football all my life and I've never seen a player command [like he did on the field]. He's given me years of pleasure."

The routine in recent times has been for Mr Rynehart and his mates to buy some fresh prawns and bread on grand final morning and make sandwiches to take into the stadium, which his wife Lee reckons is usually the envy of those nearby in the grandstand.

But Mr Rynehart will watch the game from home on Sunday night, hoping to notch up his 60^th grand final appearance next year.

His tip for this weekend? His "heart says Penrith". And he predicts lock-forward Isaah Yeo will win the Clive Churchill Medal.

"I'd like to see Penrith win," he said.

"They've shown themselves to be pretty good role models to young kids."

IN THE NEWS:

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: