Ricky Stuart was sprawled out on a bench in the Canberra Raiders change room, heartbroken after losing the 1991 grand final and icing the groin that had troubled him all season.
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His memory of the moment Prime Minister Bob Hawke leaned over him is as sketchy as the Video Ezy logo on the front of his jersey.
But he'll never forget the way Hawke embraced the Green Machine and comforted the players as though he had just played in the loss to the Penrith Panthers.
That's why Stuart, now the coach of a new generation of Raiders, implored his players to make memories "that will last you a lifetime" as they aim for their first grand final berth in 22 years.
The Canberra landscape has changed since Stuart was a player and Hawke was in charge of the country.
But the partnership of Australia's leader and the Green Machine lives on through memories of the beer-drinking, sport loving prime minister hosting parties for the Raiders.
Hawke was no bandwagon jumper. He was a Raiders man – the club's No.1 ticket holder from 1983 onwards – and will most probably be the last prime minister to make the capital's team their own.
He hosted premiership celebration and commiseration parties at The Lodge and felt at home walking into the Raiders showers to talk to John "Chicka" Ferguson.
He even once declared Canberra's golden generation should get a salary cap exemption because: "there is no team that gives pleasure to the sporting public like the Canberra Raiders and that is what people want to see".
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull wouldn't know Joey Leilua from Shannon Boyd if he bumped into them in the street.
Hawke could tell you "Chicka's" life story and what Meninga had for breakfast. He didn't just live in The Lodge and work at Parliament house, Hawke bled lime green for the Raiders.
Stuart's message to his players is simple: embrace the moments that make NRL finals special.
"You knew it was finals time when the dignitaries came to the big matches, and that makes you feel special," Stuart said.
"But having Bob as a supporter, that was extra special. And the good thing about him is that he was a down-to-earth guy who was a character and he actually loved the Raiders. Those were special days."
The Raiders' bandwagon will roll on to Melbourne for the club's first preliminary final in 19 years when they play the Storm on Saturday night.
If they beat the Storm, they will advance to the grand final for the first time since 1994.
Most of the new generation Raiders were still in nappies the last time the Green Machine won a premiership with Stuart as a star halfback.
Stuart played in an era of cotton jerseys with logos that had almost disappeared by the end of a grand final.
He played at a time when players could share a beer with the prime minister and no one would blink twice.
Hawke took to Canberra's players like they were the stars he grew up watching and embraced the city as if it was his home."Hawkey very much embraced Canberra, he was a very passionate Canberra man who wanted his team to win.
"He got right behind us not only on game days, but behind the scenes as well. He was very much part of the group ... and we had few parties at The Lodge.
"I always remember talking to him and sharing a beer, but not the advice.
"Back then I was a young guy and it made you feel special because you knew how important it was. You could feel the different vibe in the air."
Stuart is leading a group of finals rookies into their play-off campaign.
Most thought the Raiders wouldn't leave a mark on the 2016 season, but they're one win away from a shock grand final berth.
Stuart introduced a "Forever Green" initiative this year to pay respects to every player in Canberra's history whether they played one game or 300.
Stuart's photo with Hawke captured a moment 25 years ago.
"It was just a feeling back then that it was a special time. I just want people to understand our history is important and I want past and present players to understand you're always a part of it," Stuart said.
"This is your big family and you're always part of it. We're all working for the same cause.
"These are the memories that will last you a lifetime. Everyone's got a role to play and it's your choice on how you play it."
NRL PRELIMINARY FINAL
Raiders team: 1. Jack Wighton, 2. Edrick Lee, 3. Jarrod Croker (c), 4. Joey Leilua, 5. Jordan Rapana, 6. Blake Austin, 7. Aidan Sezer, 8. Junior Paulo, 9. Josh Hodgson, 10. Shannon Boyd, 11. Josh Papalii, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Sia Soliola. Interchange: 14. Kurt Baptiste, 15. Luke Bateman, 16. Paul Vaughan, 17. Joe Tapine.
Storm team: 1. Cameron Munster, 2. Suliasi Vunivalu, 3. William Chambers, 4. Cheyse Blair, 5. Marika Koroibete, 6. Blake Green, 7. Cooper Cronk, 8. Jesse Bromwich, 9. Cameron Smith (c), 10. Jordan McLean, 11. Kevin Proctor, 12. Tohu Harris, 13. Dale Finucane. Interchange: 14. Kenny Bromwich, 15. Tim Glasby, 16. Christian Welch, 17. Ben Hampton, 20. Matt White, 21. Felise Kaufusi.
