In fact, in the last eight seasons, the backrower’s played in 10 grand finals across juniors and seniors in Group 11 and in Sydney competition too.

“I was working it out the other day,” Ellis said, his Panthers preparing to take on the in-form Sydney Roosters.

“In 2014 I played in three grand finals, the under 18s with CYMS and won the SG Ball before that, and then I was 18^th man in first grade with CYMS too … I don’t know if that counts though,” he laughed.

Ellis has a handy record too.

Aside from losses at an under 14s level and then under 18s with CYMS – that year, 2014, the Fishies lost to a pretty handy Forbes team that included now first grade champions Nick Greenhalgh and Hayden Bolam – the 100 kilogram, 191 centimetre giant is gunning for a eighth crown.

If he’s successful, the confident backrower says 2016 will be a touch more special than any of the previous wins he’s experienced.

Unbackable favourites to win the 2015 Holden Cup crown, the Penrith Panthers accounted for Manly 34-18 to win the title pretty comfortably.

And although Penrith has won 18 games out of 24 in the regular season to win the minor premiership, won their first semi-final 28-6 against Cronulla then knocked off North Queensland 32-16 in the preliminary final to make the grand final this season, Ellis says getting to the decider has been far from easy.

“We’ve had a lot of changes to the team this year,” he said.

“Suspension and injury has hit us pretty hard this year, but everyone that has come into the side has known their role and they’ve done it well.

“It’d mean heaps if we can go on and win it.”

Handed six week bans, Panthers stars Jarome Luai and Jack Hetherington were suspended for the rest of the season for their involvement in a dangerous tackle on Wests Tigers fullback Daniel Roberts in August.

And the Panthers best young talent, Nathan Cleary, isn’t eligible for under 20s after making the leap to the National Rugby League look far too easy.

Ellis is joined by Coonamble Bears junior Braidon Burns, at centre, and Lithgow Workies half Wayde Egan, on the bench, in the Panthers’ side to tackle the Sydney Roosters on Sunday.

The Holden Cup grand final kicks off at 1.35pm on Sunday.

Ellis isn’t anticipating too many nerves – that’s not a surprise considering grand final day is now as regular as Christmas time for the impressive St John’s Dubbo product.