Sharing in the glory of Ashes and World Cup triumphs is fun but there was only one thing Brett Lee wanted here and that was to be part of a Pura Cup-winning side.
The 31-year-old Australia quick picked up the Allan Border Medal last month as Australia's player of the year but only now can he put his feet up knowing that he has filled a major hole in his trophy cabinet.
Lee made 97, three runs shy of his maiden first-class century, and took a crucial 4-77 and 1-68 as New South Wales completed a 258-run win over Victoria.
"I think it actually completes a lot of things," Lee said.
"I've got a World Cup final under my belt, I've played in a couple of Ashes series. But now to say I've played in a Pura Cup/Sheffield Shield final, it completes that trophy cabinet.
"This is such a big thing. Even though your aim is always to play Test cricket, NSW to me, I can remember the first day I was playing for NSW, I had tears. I was crying.
"I was so proud and so pumped. That baggy blue cap means everything to me - it's also because of the history that it has. You even look back to Don Bradman when he was playing, it's pretty amazing stuff."
Captain and man-of-the-match Simon Katich, who made 86 and 92, paid tribute to Lee's efforts.
"He definitely led the way for us. That spell on the second day certainly set the game up," Katich said. "But also his batting (on Tuesday). I think he really crushed Victoria's spirit by getting those 97 runs.
"He was up for it a week before this game started. He had never played in a final before and he just led from the front which was fantastic."
Lee's Australian teammate Michael Clarke also rose to the occasion with a stylish 64.
"It's always good to score runs. But by the time I got my bat though, the hard work was already done. Katto (Katich) and young Phillip Hughes (116) did a fantastic job," Clarke said.
"Although Katto did great, Brett was a little bit unlucky not to get man of the match."
Clarke, who has two wins from two Pura Cup finals, is keen to have some time off with model girlfriend Lara Bingle before the West Indies tour in May.
"Hopefully Lara and I can go away for a bit of a holiday for a week and then I'll get back into training," he said.
- GREG BUCKLE