The game was 18 minutes old when Steve Menzies eased himself out of his sideline seat and stretched that well-worn piece of leather across his skull.
Menzies has been clinically attached to that ungainly piece of leather throughout his footballing career. For him, preservation of grey matter has always meant more than looking cool.
When he ran onto the field two minutes later, the scoreline read 0-0. The two pre-eminent sides of 2008 had thrown everything into the first quarter of the game and neither side had conceded an inch or a point.
Enter the Beaver.
The official program paid tribute to Menzies for his “poise and timing off the bench”.
Well, for his 349th and last NRL appearance, Menzies could not have timed it better.
Over the next 43 minutes he was in the thick of things as Manly ran in six tries and tore the heart and soul out of the Melbourne Storm, a team laden with international and State of Origin talent, and who have dominated the past three NRL seasons.
Then, with the game safely in Manly’s keeping, coach Des Hasler decided it was time to give the Beaver a rest.
Off he came and off, too, came that piece of protective leather.
He disappeared down the tunnel and we thought we’d seen the last of him.
Surely not.
Moments later he was back on the sidelines and then, almost as if scripted, Steve Matai came off the field with his damaged shoulder.
Out came the piece of headgear, and back into battle went Steve Menzies.
Up went the cry “Beaver, Beaver” as a stadium full of Manly fans, gorged with success but wanting more, demanded that he sign off with a flourish.
Within 60 seconds, they had it.
Bounding downfield on his 34-year-old legs, Menzies latched onto a pass from halfback Matt Orford, then flicked it out to left winger Michael Robertson, who had already bagged a hat-trick of tries.
Robertson ran out of room, hooked the ball back inside, and there was Menzies, clutching it above his head, wheeling 180 degrees and dotting it down for his 180th career try.
It was a moment he will remember for ever. So will Rugby League.
It was the perfect finale to the game’s centenary season – except, of course, for the hapless Storm players, beaten by a record grand final margin of 40-0.
As for the piece of headgear?
It may not quite be up there with the Don’s baggy green, but when it has done its lap of honour in Menzies’ valedictory season at Bradford, it deserves its own showcase in the rugby league Hall of Fame.
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