The 2005 grand final loss "still burns" Johnathan Thurston. One must wonder how Brisbane halfback Ben Hunt must feel after his final fumble which handed North Queensland the game. Hunt was picked up from the ground and embraced by coach Wayne Bennett after his devastating final drop gifted the Cowboys a field goal opportunity. For Thurston it was probably his worst performance of the season. It was left to halves partner Michael Morgan to produce some magic with an after-the-siren flick pass to give Kyle Feldt the match-equalling try. Prior to his golden point field goal, Thurston had been overshadowed by Brisbane dynamo Anthony Milford.

A battered Thurston looked weary with his ongoing calf and groin complaints. He said during the week that the 2005 defeat to the Wests Tigers "still burns" and that he "does not really like talking about it".

A decade later and that pain will finally be cleared. His trademark dummy was non-existent and his kicking game strayed at times. While forever the competitor he never found his groove and barley troubled the Broncos defence despite spending a large chunk of the second half camped inside the Brisbane red zone. In contrast, Milford was speculator – particularly in an attacking first-half blitz and finishing with two key one on one strips. Hunt – who was placed on report for a dangerous tackle on Kane Linnett late in the game – tried to control it but never found his best form.

Both teams started conservatively – as shown by the Broncos' 42-metre penalty goal in the fifth minute. From there they started to loosen up a little and pass more than one off the ruck.

Hunt's first kick was ordinary, landing in the lap of Cowboys winger Feldt while Morgan's first touch was a forward pass. It was left to Milford to spark the sides when he chimed in on the back of a deft Corey Parker off-load two tackles after Parker's penalty goal. Milford sliced through before passing to centre Jack Reed who gave Corey Oates an untouched 80-metre sprint to score the opening try of the game.

Thurston played his first part with a 13th minute kick and made his first tackle when the Broncos next touched the ball.

He would make six more for the half, one less than his Brisbane counterparts in what was a relatively low tackle count for each playmaker.

Thurston's early woes continued, when a loose carry led to Reed scoring and giving the Broncos a two point half-time lead. Thurston fumbled the ball under the attention of Broncos hooker Andrew McCullough during the tackle, with some feeble Cowboys defence – led by bench forward Ben Hannant – allowing Matt Gillett to slice through and give Reed his first grand final try. Morgan struggled with a leg injury after landing awkwardly in a tackle midway through the first half.