This time there was no fairytale finish for North Queensland.
Anthony Milford kicked a wobbly 40-metre field goal in the 85th minute to seal a 21-20 golden point win for Brisbane over the Cowboys at a packed Suncorp Stadium in an NRL grand final re-match to remember.
The clash loomed as a repeat of last October’s premiership decider after some Michael Morgan magic helped the Cowboys come from behind to lead Brisbane 18-14 late on Friday night.
Then Brisbane led 20-18 after James Roberts finished an 80m movement sparked by Milford in the 75th minute.
But not to be outdone, Cowboys co-captain Johnathan Thurston sent the match into extra-time by slotting a tough penalty shot with 45 seconds left on the clock.
And Thurston soon after thought he had sealed another golden-point win over Brisbane just as he did in the 2015 decider.
But Thurston was denied an 84th-minute try by the bunker after it appeared he spilt the ball over the line after a diving Kyle Feldt somehow batted the ball back into play from the sideline.
Indeed there was a strong sense of deja vu as Morgan set up winger Feldt down the sideline for an 82nd minute match winning try – only to be called back for a forward pass.
Milford finally sealed the result when he potted over the field goal with 18 seconds left in extra-time’s first period.
Brisbane led 10-0 after 22 minutes and 12-6 at halftime but North Queensland came back into the game after Morgan scored in the 55th minute and set up Ethan Lowe in the 70th as the Cowboys grabbed a 18-14 lead.
Brisbane held on to ensure North Queensland had not won at Suncorp Stadium since 2012.
Paul Green has never tasted victory at the venue as Cowboys coach.