A good crowd flocked to Apex Oval two hours before the main game to watch the top-tier premiers do battle with the 2014 Graincorp Cup champions, and while both sides lacked in touch and fitness after finishing their respective seasons several weeks prior the match didn’t lack anything in the physicality department.

That was evident from the first play of the match, when Roos prop Max Ma’a Nelson lined up Rhinos rival Ra Dean but found himself bouncing off his good friend and onto the ground, while later in the match Ilisoni Vonomateiratu drilled Vince Williamson with one of the biggest hits you will ever see.

To Williamson’s credit he bounced up and continued on.

Played under NRC rules with conversions worth three points, and penalty goals and field goals worth just two, both sides threw the ball around but in the end could only cross for one try each.

The Kangaroos opened the scoring in the first of three terms of play through forward Shaun McHugh, who somehow found himself wearing the number 10 jersey.

Scott Burgess booted the conversion as the Roos led 8-0 at the first break.

Vonomateiratu scored the only points of the second stanza when he barged over from close range, while the Roos were forced to defend their line for long periods of the third but held out to claim the win and retain the trophy.

Mark Melville was on hand at the ground to present the trophy to Roos captain Peter Nau before staying on to watch the main game of the evening.