The Group 10 minor semi-final loss signalled the end of Sullivan’s time in Orange, with CYMS’ player-coach soon to move to the Central Coast after nine seasons and five top-flight premierships with the green and golds.

Though bitterly disappointed with the result and its consequences – CYMS’s back-to-back semi-finals loses to Hawks and Panthers spell the end of their 2018 campaign – Sullivan admitted to being touched by Saturday’s farewell from a field where he has tasted a great deal of success.

That the walls of the guard were lined with players from both Panthers and his own club made it “really special”.

“I’m probably the poor man’s Johnathan Thurston, I guess,” he said, referencing the NRL icon’s own farewell from his Townsville faithful on Friday.

“For our boys to do it, and for the Panthers boys to come over, it was great.

“We’ve had some great battles with Panthers, they’ve been a team that we’ve really struggled against in my time.”

Speaking soon after the conclusion to Saturday’s game, the mentor said the full range of emotions brought about by his departure hadn’t really hit home yet.

“It had to end somewhere and unfortunately it’s ended today. What can you do,” he said.

He admitted to some disappointment with his personal performances in the 2018 season – “I was a bit off this year” – and lamented a less-than-ideal preparation for his final campaign in CYMS colours.

“The years did get harder, through other commitments and things,” the 37-year-old said.

“It’s an all-year-round sport, and I probably didn’t just didn’t do enough in the off-season and it caught up with me in the back end.”

As far as the race for this year’s premiership goes, Sullivan said while Panthers “could give the other sides a scare”, his money was on the Magpies.

“I said at the start of the year and I still think that Cowra are the team to beat,” he said.

“Sutto [coach Steve Sutton] has done really well with them. I think they’ll win it.”