It’s the one memory Johnathan Thurston will never be able to flick.
As the North Queensland co-captain prepares to face long-time foe Benji Marshall on the latest stop of his farewell tour, Thurston admits he’s still haunted by Marshall’s famous grand final flick pass in 2005.
“It will for the rest of my life,” Thurston said.
“That grand final wasn’t great for us. Whenever you lose a grand final, it haunts you for the rest of your life, so that will never change.”
Thurston and Marshall are arguably two of the most popular players in the modern era, boasting two premierships, 63 international Tests, and four Golden Boot awards between them.
But with Thurston now 35 and Marshall 33, the pair will clash for the 19th – and most likely final – time at Leichhardt Oval on Thursday night.
For the record, Marshall holds a 12-7 lead in their individual NRL match-ups.
And he has found a new lease of life in his fairytale return to his former club, wearing the same black-and-gold that will forever torment Thurston’s dreams.
Thursday’s clash also marks Marshall’s first game back at Leichhardt since his messy exit in 2014.
“Obviously we’ve competed against each other a lot. Benj is back at his home now and playing some really good footy,” Thurston said.
“They’re the challenges that you enjoy, that you look forward to, coming up against the best players in the world and the quality players.
“He’s playing some outstanding footy. He’s playing with a lot more control and composure, and that’s what you need when you got young blokes around you.”
Thurston’s final season appeared dead in the water until the Cowboys survived a second-half assault from Penrith to claim just their third win of the season on Friday.
The Cowboys veteran was cagey when asked whether he had begun to worry about the team’s finals fortunes following a disappointing start to the season.
“I haven’t exactly looked at the ladder,” he said.
“But I thought tonight was a step in the right direction for us. The challenge for us now is to back that up and be better in the areas that we need to be. It’s a massive relief getting the two points.
“It’s few and far between obviously, it’s nice to be in the winner’s circle.”