It's been more than eight months since that fateful day at Leichhardt Oval.
While the nib Newcastle Knights won the battle that day, the team copped a brutal blow in their season-long war effort, with Jayden Brailey learning he had a torn ACL.
As innocuous as the incident was, and even with a two-month COVID-19 shutdown, Brailey would take no further part in the 2020 season.
Now, with pre-season training for 2021 underway, Brailey is back, and he has his sights set on storming back into the NRL.
"Yeah, I'm very excited," Brailey said before the session.
"It's a bit of relief as well.
"I've been waiting for this day for a long time and to be able to run out with the boys, I'm just itching to get out there."
Brailey said he returned to near full-training yesterday, however is still easing his way back into full contact sessions.
Despite this, he insisted he'd be ready and raring to go for Round One.
"I'll be ready for round one," he said.
"I'll be good to go by March."
Despite not featuring for the bulk of the 2020 season and spending countless hours in rehab, Brailey still maintained his presence around the squad and was often sighted in the coach's box.
The 24-year-old was quick to lift the lid on why he chose to get involved with the coaching staff.
"I've probably watched more football than I ever have before throughout the year," Brailey said.
"I didn't want to sort of waste season 2020 because of the injury.
"I wanted to keep my footy brain intact and that's why I did a bit of coaching stuff and you probably saw me up in the box a couple of times.
"I just wanted to see and understand the sort of standards that Adam wants us to live up to as players.
"I think I've really made the most of 2020 for what it was and I know what I need to bring now."
As for the infamous 'hookers curse', Brailey was hesitant to buy into the conspiracy.
"I don't want to talk about that. That's something I'll leave over there and never think about again," he said.
"There was a lot of mental battles for me throughout the year. I'm just really relieved it's all done and I'm back fit and healthy and I can be back doing what I love."
