It's almost 10 years since Jamie Soward and Sam Perrett lined up together in the history-making Sydney Roosters' under-20s Jersey Flegg Cup team.
The pair, who face each other in Saturday's NRL preliminary final between Canterbury and Penrith, were the star players in a side which remained undefeated for an entire season.
It's a record that still stands after Soward's late field-goal saw off Cronulla side 14-13 in the curtain-raiser to the 2004 NRL grand final at ANZ Stadium between the Roosters and the Bulldogs.
Both Soward and Perrett have enjoyed stellar careers since that game with the Penrith skipper winning the 2010 premiership with St George Illawarra.
Canterbury fullback Perrett was part of the New Zealand side that lifted the 2008 Rugby League World Cup and has played in two grand finals.
They were on opposite sides in the 2010 decider as the Dragons beat the Roosters and Soward has nothing but admiration for the way Perrett has defied the critics since moving from wing to the Bulldogs fullback spot.
"I think at the start of the year people were saying the Bulldogs would really miss Ben Barba and needed a big-name fullback," Soward told AAP.
"It shows how much character he's got to not to listen to all that rubbish and how much he believes in himself.
"He has been a key player and works well in that combination with (Josh) Reynolds and (Trent) Hodkinson."
Soward said it was obvious from the first time he played with Perrett that he would go on to have a good career and has praised his ability to remain at the top level for more than a decade.
"He was such a professional even when he was 19 or 20 and looking after his body which is probably why he was playing first grade that year," he said.
"When the rest of us would go out for a couple of beers he'd be in the corner on the waters.
"But he has always been a massive talent and because of his versatility he's been able to play wing and fullback for a long time now."
The Sydney Roosters under-20s side that remained unbeaten in 2004 with a 14-13 win over Cronulla.
SYDNEY ROOSTERS: Sam Perrett; McConkie Tauasa, Jermaine Ale, Albert Hopoate, Michael Lett; Jamie Soward (capt), Peter Taylor; Ray Moujalli, Heath L'Estrange, Danny Williams, Luke Fatnowna, Michael Burns, Grant Millington. Interchange: William Tupou, Peewee Moke, Luke Gordon, Troy Malcolm. Coach: Shane Flanagan.
Tries Ale, Taylor; Goals: Soward (2); Field goals: Soward (2)
CRONULLA: Bronx Goodwin; Bryson Goodwin, Ben Yelavich, Dimitri Pelo, Mitch Brown; Scott Porter, Travis Burns; Michael Greenfield, Nick Doig, Desai Gupwell, Kurt Puohotaua, Rimini Reweti (c), Cameron Ciraldo. Interchange: Rhys Lovegrove, Jacob Selmes, Luke Douglas, Jardine Bobongie. Coach: Aaron Raper.
Tries: Bryson Goodwin (2); Goals: Burns (2); Field goal Porter.
Referee: Ben Cummins
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