Boos echoed around the ground every time Matt Lodge touched the ball in his first NRL game for Brisbane last year.
Just twelve months later Matt Lodge has been embraced as the new leader of the Broncos pack.
Ahead of Brisbane's NRL season opener against Melbourne on Thursday, Lodge has been toasted as a worthy recipient of the No.8 jersey made famous by the likes of club great Shane Webcke.
"You saw what he did last year. He was inspirational," front-row partner Joe Ofahengaue said.
"If he does the same this year it will be something special."
Ofahengaue even went as far as claiming he could launch the start of a "new era" for Brisbane props alongside Lodge this year.
"Last year we played some good games together. We just have to work on consistency and build our partnership together."
What a difference a year makes.
Lodge has emerged as a fan favourite after a season of redemption.
The hulking prop was public enemy No.1 when he made his Broncos debut last year in his comeback from a 2015 New York drunken rampage.
Yet Lodge was a stand out in his 2018 return, playing all 25 of Brisbane's games this year to be named best forward and finish second in the Player of the Year vote at the club.
He then earned a two-year Broncos contract extension and selection in the Emerging NSW squad.
Brisbane hooker Andrew McCullough ominously predicted a big year for Lodge after marvelling at how the prop excelled in 2018 without a pre-season under his belt.
"It's been a bit smoother transition for him this time around," McCullough said.
"He can just get on with playing football. He has got his body right in the pre-season and has got the chance to set up his season right."
Brisbane also have Tevita Pangai up their sleeve.
Pangai has been named on the bench against the Storm after battling a hamstring complaint but is expected to combine with his close mate Lodge in the front-row when fully fit.
