It is 137 seconds that will haunt Corey Parker for the rest of his life and the Broncos veteran has urged the NRL to seriously consider making amendments to extra time for future Telstra Premiership grand finals.
Parker was one of a handful of Broncos from that fateful night in October who returned for day one of pre-season training on Monday, a taxing testing session their first assignment eight weeks after they returned from Sydney as heartbroken runners-up.
Parker posted the first points in the sixth minute of the grand final and finished with 44 tackles and 170 metres but it was Cowboys superstar Johnathan Thurston who landed the critical final blow, a field goal in the 83rd minute that earned North Queensland an historic first title.
Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett said in the post-match press conference that it was an unsatisfactory way for a premiership to be decided and as he embarks on his 16th NRL season Parker also urged officials to consider a period of extra time before launching into sudden death.
"As a spectator, you want to see a result on game day," Parker said.
"Looking back to the grand final, it was played with a spirit and passion that was fantastic and then you go into golden point and it turns from what it was into something else.
"I believe we have an extra 10 minutes and I dare say you have a result after that 10 minutes. If not, then you go to golden point.
"You would still get a result but it would be played in a different context to what we saw."
Despite turning 33 in May Parker produced one of the best seasons of his career in 2015, playing an integral role in Brisbane's resurgence as well as winning the Wally Lewis Medal as player of the State of Origin Series.
As good friend Justin Hodges embarks on life after football Parker has given some indications that he may continue playing on beyond 2016 if he and the club can come to an agreement.
There are a host of young faces waiting in the wings ready to take his place the day he does retire but the veteran of 323 NRL games says they are actually inspiring him to keep playing.
"When you first start you don't envisage 16 years at the top but each year keeps coming around and you keep setting new challenges and benchmarks," said Parker. "Before you know, you are 16 years in.
"You stop and think and reflect; Joe Ofahengaue was four when I debuted. That's pretty scary to think.
"That's the beauty of rugby league, I'm still playing and I get to experience what Joey brings.
"I'm contracted to play next year but after that it's in the air, we'll see what comes of that. I'm looking forward to another year.
"You have to have the desire and the want to keep competing which at this stage I want to do.
"But then there's two sides to the negotiating table, we'll wait and see how it unfolds."
The retirement of Hodges also leaves Bennett with the assignment of appointing a new captain, a role Parker would welcome while at the same time acknowledging he has no control over.
"I don't have to publicly say how much this means to me. Everyone is very aware of that, we'll wait and see in due time what comes of all that," said Parker, who was co-captain along with Hodges in 2014.
"Until we go down that path, I can't give you a good answer to that.
"If you go off last year he held out a fair while. Wayne does things when he wants so we'll wait and see. "
