Eight tragic NRL finals performances

THERE are heroes and there are villains when it comes to footy finals. Here, we take a closer look at the latter.

THERE are heroes and there are villains.

Here, Big League selects the eight most tragic NRL finals performances.

8. Shaun Kenny-Dowall

One of the Roosters’ most consistent players over the past decade, Kenny-Dowall’s opening-minute brain explosion set his side on course for a heavy defeat at the hands of Brisbane in last year’s preliminary final. The rangy Kiwi fielded Ben Hunt’s first kick of the night near the sideline on his own 30, before inexplicably floating a pass towards his fullback Roger Tuivasa-Sheck. Broncos No.1 Darius Boyd plucked it out of the air to race away for a try and the Roosters never recovered, crashing to a 31-12 loss.

A shell-shocked Shaun Kenny-Dowall after his error led to a Brisbane try in the 2015 preliminary final. Picture: Adam Head

7. Daryl Halligan

Kiwi sharpshooter Halligan is recognised as arguably the greatest goalkicker in premiership history, but an off day with the boot in his first season after switching from rugby union cruelled long-suffering North Sydney’s bid for a grand final berth. The Bears fought back from a 12-0 deficit in the 1991 major semi against Penrith to level the scores at 14-all, but a one-from-five effort from Halligan — including a penalty miss in the dying minutes — allowed the Panthers to sneak home 16-14 despite scoring only two tries to Norths’ three.

Superboot Daryl Halligan had a rare off day in 1991.

6. Tony Williams

A key component in Manly’s 2011 premiership success, rampaging back-rower Williams’ last match for the club was arguably his worst. A “T-Rex” dropped ball led to Melbourne’s first try in the 2012 preliminary final, while defensive errors opened the door for two further four-pointers in the Storm’s resounding 40-12 win. Williams’ running game also went missing — carrying the ball just five times — to end his Sea Eagles tenure on a sour note before reuniting with Des Hasler at Canterbury.

Tony Williams had a turbulent time at Manly.

5. Ashton Sims

Wholehearted forward Sims’ three-season stint in Brisbane is chiefly remembered for a costly error in the Broncos’ dramatic 2008 semi-final loss to Melbourne. The Broncos led 14-12 with less than 90 seconds of a pulsating encounter left when Sims had the ball jolted free by a punishing Sika Manu tackle. Two plays later, Greg Inglis dived over in the corner to break the Broncos’ hearts.

A distraught Ashton Sims following Brisbane’s loss to Melbourne in the 2008 semi-final.

4. Manu Vatuvei

Enigmatic winger Vatuvei had a night to forget in the Warriors’ 40-10 loss to the Broncos in Week One of the 2011 finals. In a performance reminiscent of his infamous outing at Parramatta Stadium in 2007, “The Beast” made five handling errors to repeatedly put the Warriors on the back foot. A consolation four-pointer wasn’t enough to erase the damage of a mistake-riddled display, but in trademark fashion Vatuvei responded with a blinder in the semi-final upset of Wests Tigers a week later.

One of Manu Vatuvei's five handling errors against the Broncos in the 2011 qualifying final.

3. Dale Copley

The 20-year-old Copley’s horror start in the 2011 preliminary final against Manly seriously dented the hopes of a Brisbane side already reeling from the injury withdrawal of retiring legend Darren Lockyer. The wing tyro accidentally knocked the ball from teammate Jack Reed’s grasp as he was about to score an early equaliser, before Copley coughed up possession 10 metres out from the Broncos’ line to gift a try to Sea Eagles opposite Will Hopoate. Copley was also caught out defensively as Hopoate extended Manly’s lead to an unassailable 16 points in the second stanza, although he did cross for the last try of the Broncos’ 26-14 loss.

Dale Copley had a horror night against the Sea Eagles. Picture: Brett Costello

2. Steve Mavin

Few players are associated with one unfortunate display to the same extent as flamboyant South Sydney winger Steve Mavin and his shocker in the 1987 minor semi. Canberra centre Peter Jackson terrorised the Rabbitohs rookie, who fluffed three Jackson kicks as the Raiders raced to a 16-0 lead after 15 minutes, forcing coach George Piggins to hook the crestfallen Mavin. The youngster changed into his civvies and left the SFS before half-time, listening to the death throes of the 46-12 rout on the radio at home.

Steve Mavin leaves the field after an infamous performance in 1987. Picture: Philip Brown

1. Paul Carige

Paul Carige crafted a reputation as an occasionally brilliant but regularly erratic performer at wing and fullback for Parramatta — and the latter qualities shone through in the Eels’ devastating 1998 preliminary final loss to Canterbury. The blue-and-golds had already coughed up an 18-2 lead with 11 minutes to go when Carige’s in-goal gaffe gave up a line dropout inside the final 30 seconds. Carige then collected a missed field-goal attempt as the siren sounded and mystifyingly booted the ball downfield, after which Bulldogs five-eighth Craig Polla-Mounter’s long-range shot at a one-pointer fell just under the cross-bar. The 24-year-old was unable to capitalise on his reprieve during extra-time, taking the ball over the sideline twice. “He has made some of the dumbest plays I’ve ever seen,” exasperated Eels great Peter Sterling said in commentary. Carige never played first grade again.

Paul Carige takes out top spot.

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