Retiring great Craig Fitzgibbon wanted time to stand still.
But you could be forgiven for thinking every Sydney Roosters supporter could barely wait for the full-time siren to finish a forgettable season, which ended with the NRL club's first wooden spoon in 43 years.
North Queensland delivered the final rites on the Roosters' season from hell at the Sydney Football Stadium yesterday, coming back from 16-0 down to win 32-16 and ruin Fitzgibbon's farewell.
Just when it looked like Fitzgibbon would avoid the ignominy of departing with wooden spoon in hand, the tri-colours again capitulated, sparing Cronulla an undeserved last-placed finish.
The Sharks had fought hard the past two weeks to be twice cruelly denied wins.
Fitzgibbon who will play in England with Hull in 2010 refused to let the result, or a tumultuous final season, get him down as he took part in a lap of honour.
''I haven't had my ego stroked like that before,'' Fitzgibbon said.
''I've been joking all week I'd like to retire more often it's the best feeling. It's a weird feeling, I want to keep playing I wish there was next week.
''I was hoping it [the clock] would stop so we could keep playing, I wished time could stand still but unfortunately it was running down pretty quick.''
And the Cowboys kept piling on the points.
The Roosters defence had looked like putting in for its retiring warhorse as it repelled the Cowboys for the opening 38 minutes, with tries to Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Iwi Hauraki and Willie Mason setting up a handy advantage.
Then North Queensland skipper Johnathan Thurston, who had provided some of his most inept football over the opening half hour, found his skills.
Thurston turned around his own game and that of the Cowboys, scoring a sneaky one between the posts just before half-time after a quick tap before sparking a five-try onslaught in the second 40 minutes.
''I'm a bit filthy,'' said departing Roosters coach Brad Fittler. ''I thought we could have dug in a bit harder. We got it down to 40 minutes and we were in front by ten, it was just crap really.''
The winners, too, were left with a bitter taste, knowing second-half collapses over the past month had cruelled their finals chances.
''We've been in games to win and just come up short at full-time,' Thurston said. ''It's a hollow feeling sitting here knowing we're not playing next week.''
Meanwhile, Fittler believes it won't be easy lifting the NRL club from the 2009 doldrums.
Besides Fitzgibbon and Fittler, long-time trainer Ronnie Palmer, Shane Shacklton and Sia Soliola also farewelled the club yesterday.
Fittler and Fitzgibbon have been at the club for a combined 24 years with the former admitting replacing the lost experience would be difficult for new coach Brian Smith.
''When you look at Fitzy, Ronnie, Shane Shacklton, Sia Soliola they're all quality human beings and we came last,'' Fittler said.
''As a group they've got to stand up and provide a new culture and a new personality for the club and they're losing a lot of quality I reckon.
''It's going to be a tough job but I think Brian Smith's a good man for it, he's been there and he's been in hard situations before he's the man for it but it will be tough.''
Fittler will take some time before deciding his next venture.
''I'll stay involved with footy that's all that I know at the moment,'' he said. AAP
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