If you needed a reminder of why this game never gives up its stories easily, Sunday against the Northern Pride was it.
Pride drew first blood inside two minutes through Ben Rumble, but the Magpies answered immediately. Debutant Prinston Esera announced himself in the best possible way, breaking the line and crossing in the 6th minute on debut. Then came Maika Poese to make it 8-6, and for a moment, the Magpies looked in control.
Pride had other ideas. Three unanswered tries swung the game firmly their way, and by the 32nd minute the Magpies found themselves trailing 8-22 with plenty of work to do.
Then another debutant stepped up. Kylem Vunipola.
Kingsitimer Paraia made a line break, finding himself a four pointer just before the side headed into the break.
As the side got back into the groove after half time, Mitchell Owen crossed to bring the margin back to 14-22 at the break closely followed by Penisimani Teaupa Jr. crossing the line for his first try of the season.
We saw our second try on debut of the day as Vunipola crossed for a try of his own in the 57th minute, and then did something special slotting the conversion himself to make it 30-26.
The game then swung wildly again. Pride crossed twice to lead 30-36, before Kobe Martin broke the line in the dying seconds to bring the scores to 34-36. Up stepped Vunipola again, ice in his veins, converting from out wide to level at 36-36. Full time.
A draw. But what a show from our debutants. Vunipola and Esera both crossed on their first appearance in Magpies colours.
The Magpies' never-say-die spirit is becoming a trademark, though it would be nice to make some of these draws two pointers. On to next week.