"It cost me a good whack, I had to mortgage the house!," Rick told AAP.
13 years later, it's Corey on the field for Canberra and Rick queuing up for drinks among a crowd of thousands at Allegiant Stadium.
Five members of the Horsburgh clan flew out to Las Vegas to watch Corey in action against the Warriors in the second of four rugby league games being played on Sunday (AEDT).
They're among a crowd of well above 40,000 that began filtering in from 12.30pm local time - an hour before kick off to the Super League match between Wigan and Warrington.
The fans came across the overpass from the direction of the Mandalay Bay Hotel, or through the car park drinking big cans of Coors.
Inside, there were more beers to be purchased from spruikers with ice buckets, and photos to be taken with surprisingly obliging policemen and their automatic weapons.
The stadium itself is unlike any in Australia, made with 28,000 tons of steel, seating 65,000 and entirely indoor.
Nothing can come in or out; what happens in Vegas' stadium, stays in Vegas' stadium.
There are no pass-outs, either, so the most ardent fans will have have been sitting in the stands for around 10 hours by the end of the festivities. Not a bad shift.
The grass, grown under the Nevada sun, was rolled into the stadium earlier this week.
The NRL held its breath as American contractors painted the lines on the field, likely having never watched a game of rugby league before.
High above the northern touchline is a large window that offers a view of the Luxor Casino across the busy Las Vegas Highway.
Ahead of game day, Corey Horsburgh had to smile as he considered that rugby league had landed here in this most vibrant of cities.
"A little old game from Australia is in Vegas. It's massive," he told AAP.
For Horsburgh, a season of new beginnings starts here.
The former State of Origin representative lost his spot in the Raiders' 17 last year amid injury and form issues, but scored the winning try in the last game of the season against St George Illawarra.
He's taken that auspicious final chapter of 2024 into the off-season.
"I've put my nose down for once and am actually trying to get a bit fitter," he said.
"I'm feeling good, probably the best I've felt in a while. I'm just excited to play some footy."
From the crowd in Vegas, Rick will share his son's excitement at the prospect of a fresh start.
"He was very disappointed losing his 13 jersey. Injuries sort of slowed him up," he said.
"He's trained hard, he's hired a dietician, he's doing more weights. He's looking much stronger and fitter.
"He's happy as."
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