It had the distinct feel of being Kootingal-Moonbi's worst nightmare: their captain and chief playmaker, Jordan Sharpe, sitting sideline looking miserable after being carried off with a dislocated left knee.
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He was injured in last Saturday's preliminary final against the Magpies at Werris Creek. Despite the blow, the Roosters moved on seamlessly - winning 30-14, as No.6 Sam Taylor elevated his game, and they will play North Tamworth in Saturday's grand final at Jack Woolaston Oval.
In potentially a huge boost for Kooty, Sharpe will start the match - although Roosters coach Geoff Sharpe, his father, was not giving much away when he confirmed the motivational halfback would play in the finale.
The mentor said his son had been able to run this week and would play against the Bears. But when asked if the No.7 had medial ligament damage, and would he require a match-day painkiller, his stock reply was "he'll be starting".
It remains to be seen how effective he will be on Saturday. Because as his father pointed out immediately after the Magpies clash, medial ligament damage tends to accompany a knee dislocation.
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However, the coach - in his second year at the helm in Kootingal and enjoying the relationship more than ever - has been emboldened by Taylor's form and the way he steered the side at the Creek in his fellow playmaker's absence.
Taylor was sidelined for more than nine months with a knee injury. He came back in the second half of this season and his improving form hit a high point against Werris Creek.
Sharpe said: "Looking for a big game from Sammy [against Norths]. I thought he was awesome against Creek." Sharpe continued: "I thought what he showed when Jordo [Jordan] went off ... mate, it was smooth ... we didn't miss a beat in the second half."
The Roosters - minor premiers last season but knocked out in straight sets in the finals - spluttered in the first half of 2019. Sharpe said their turning point came in the first game of the second round, when they rallied in the second half to beat the Cowboys 34-14 at Dungowan.
Sharpe revealed that a half-time spray form Kooty's veteran prop, Chris Vidler, and his son inspiring the side in the second half of that match, put the Roosters on a path leading to a grand final date with the undefeated, reigning five-time premiers.
He said: "We had a real honest half-time session where Chris Vidler had a huge say in what was goin' on ... I can't really fault the guys since then."
Following the Cowboys clash, Kooty have only lost once in eight matches: a 30-10 defeat by Norths at Jack Woolaston Oval. On that day, Norths quickly gained the ascendancy. If Kootingal-Moonbi are to cause one of the biggest upsets in Group 4 history, Sharpe knows that that can't happen on Saturday.
"Gotta stay in the arm wrestle early, not give away silly penalties, don't make mistakes and ask some questions when we get down their end of the field," he said.
