Culum Retallick will be keeping a firm hand on the lid of the Mitre 10 Cup Championship trophy if his Bay of Plenty side win the final this week after an awkward encounter with the silverware today led to the top crashing on the floor.
The Steamers skipper, a cousin of All Black Brodie, went for a closer inspection of the trophy ahead of this Friday's final against Wellington in the capital, when he made the awkward gaffe.
Retallick scooped up the trophy assuming the lid was locked on only to hear it clang on the ground moments later after he tipped it up to read the wording on its face.
The 32-year-old awkwardly stepped forward and grabbed the lid while making light of the situation.
"I'm not used to lifting it up!" he said.
The Steamers play the Lions at 7:35pm at Westpac Stadium on Friday.
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