Round 1, 2000: Sydney Roosters 20 Parramatta 16

With the new millennium came an excitement and buzz around the harbour city –the Olympics were set to be held for the first time in Australia since 1956 and the Roosters had rebranded to ‘Sydney’ – and eventually, they would reach their first Grand Final in over two decades.

But the journey to the 2000 decider started with a hard-fought comeback against the Parramatta Eels, with the Brad Fittler-inspired Roosters starting their campaign with a bang.

New signing Craig Fitzgibbon score the Club’s first points of the 21st century with a penalty goal after six minutes, but it would be current Roosters’ assistant coach Nathan Cayless scoring the first try of the match in controversial circumstances as the two teams clashed early.

A lost ball saw the Eels swoop to double their lead after less than a quarter of the match played, and although Fitzgibbon closed the deficit to eight with another penalty goal, their opponents struck once more with just seconds remaining to take a 16-4 lead heading into the break – despite the ball being lost on the replay.

Not to be deterred, the Tricolours charged through as a Bryan Fletcher break early in the second stanza, and a young Shannon Hegarty took a cross-field kick with aplomb to score the side’s first try.

Ten minutes later a headgear-clad David Solomona barged over to close the gap to four, and soon after Hegarty was over for the equaliser following another bust from Fletcher thanks to some Fittler magic.

Two more goals from Fitzgibbon’s boot iced the match, with the Roosters crowing 20 points to 16 to start their season.