A Brisbane back-rower was always going to be a talking point after the Broncos' NRL season opener against South Sydney at Suncorp Stadium.
Unfortunately, it was not milestone man Corey Parker when the dust settled on Thursday night's 36-6 loss.
Off contract Sam Thaiday looks to be at least relegated to the bench next round after Broncos coach Wayne Bennett took aim at the ill-disciplined Test forward following the Rabbitohs' rout.
Parker took centre stage - literally - after being allowed to lead out the Broncos ahead of newly anointed captain Justin Hodges in his 300th NRL game.
He became only the second Broncos player to achieve the feat behind Darren Lockyer (355 games).
The NRL even approved the 30m marking on the field to be painted with the number 300.
However, Thaiday was the back-rower on everyone's lips post-match after giving away costly penalties.
"It's not acceptable from Sam, to be honest," Bennett said.
"Okay, he's an Australian (Test) player and 200-game player here and just knows that kind of stuff doesn't work.
"We have to have a team that's disciplined and can match it with the top teams and your top and most senior players have to be responsible."
Thaiday racked up a team-high 123 metres from 13 hit-ups along with 34 tackles.
But Bennett gave his strongest hint yet that Matt Gillett would replace Thaiday in the starting backrow for their second-round clash at Cronulla.
Back from off-season shoulder surgery, Gillett was impressive off the bench with one try, 100m, 21 tackles and a line break.
Asked what his plans were for Gillett, Bennett said: "Probably starting next week.
"I am not that silly to leave the good ones out."
In another poke at Thaiday, Bennett said he could forgive makeshift fullback Jordan Kahu's errors under the high ball before the senior back-rower's indiscretions.
"You can live with that," Bennett said of Kahu who is filling in for Darius Boyd (achilles).
"But the ones that can be avoided are the ones that you have to get out of the team.
"Sam had a couple there that were just unacceptable."
But asked if Thaiday would lose his starting spot, Bennett said: "You will have to wait and see".
Still, Bennett has not given up on his Broncos just one game into his celebrated return after a seven-year hiatus.
"(Assistant) Kevin Walters said after the game 'that was the Broncos 20 years ago - they just swapped jerseys'," he said of Souths.
"We all know how it works here. We have to get back to making it work.
"That's the journey we are all on.
"In a cynical way, I am glad we did play them because at least I know how far we have to go."
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