Little separated Brisbane halfback Ben Hunt and opposite number Johnathan Thurston for much of yet another epic Queensland derby at Suncorp Stadium.
But when the dust settled on a Thurston-inspired North Queensland's 21-20 extra-time win on Friday night, the difference between the No.7s could not have been more stark.
Cowboys co-captain Thurston repeated his 2015 grand final heroics, stepping up to slot an 88-minute field goal from 30 metres out to break Brisbane hearts.
Thurston again proved the difference after the Queensland derby went into extra-time for the fourth time in five games.
Thurston revelled in the clutch moment.
Hunt did not.
"Moments like that, personally, you want the ball in your hands," Thurston said.
"That's a learning curve for those (Brisbane) boys."
And it appears it is a steep one - especially for Hunt.
Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett admitted the halfback was "not comfortable" stepping up to make the clutch play.
Hunt appeared to baulk at a field goal in extra-time, leaving it to halves partner Anthony Milford to make two failed attempts.
It stood in stark contrast to the way Hunt started the game, setting up Brisbane's 14-6 first-half lead with two pinpoint kicks that led to tries.
Remarkably Hunt has never kicked a field goal in his 167-game career.
Asked if Hunt should have put his hand up for an extra-time field goal, Bennett said: "He's probably not comfortable doing that right now.
"It's not that he doesn't practise it (field goals). It comes down to probably whoever wants to put their hand up.
"Everyone is under a lot of pressure, everyone's exhausted (in extra-time). No one enjoys it."
No one, it seems, except Thurston.
"When the game is on the line personally I wouldn't want to have any other player to have the ball in his hands," Cowboys coach Paul Green said.
"And most importantly he wants the ball in his hands in those moments.
"In terms of being able to make the play when it matters most he is probably the best guy I have ever coached."
Hunt initially looked like the halfback who would nab the limelight on Friday night.
Under pressure to perform since signing a lucrative five-year Dragons deal, Hunt's maligned kicking game set up tries for James Roberts and skipper Darius Boyd.
But it was Thurston who stole the show - again.
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