Stacey Jones, seen scoring his legendary try in the 2002 NRL Grand Final, will leave the Warriors with his reputation intact. Photo / Getty Images
Just before halftime on Saturday night, Stacey Jones found himself with nothing but 60m of turf between him and the Panthers' line.
Manu Vatuvei had broken through and put Jones in the clear - but not for long. Penrith's chasers gobbled him up with ease.
The Warriors scored anyway through
Joel Moon, but it was the sight of a player who was once one of the great open-field runners being gunned down that lingers in the memory.
The question is, how long will it linger? Where should it rate alongside all those other memories? Jones dancing through the line to score in the 2002 grand final; Jones flying across the globe to attend the birth of a child and then making the return trip just in time to kick the Kangaroos to defeat in the 2005 Tri Nations final; Jones emerging from the dressing room after that historic victory to describe how he felt in just two words: "I'm buggered."
The answer may not be one hardcore Jones lovers want to hear.
There is no escaping the fact his comeback was a failure. The team failed and Jones failed with it.
It's been suggested that the carping of the critics was a major factor in his decision to throw in the towel. But legendary status doesn't bring immunity from criticism. Quite the opposite. Jones knew that. And if all it took was a few harsh words to send him back into retirement, can his heart have really been in it?
Jones claimed that he had enjoyed his comeback season. Really? Sure didn't look like much fun. He said it was time to "let the younger players come through". But if they were better than him, the youngsters would be in the team. If not, they can wait.
More likely he just realised he could no longer be the player he wanted to be. The NRL is a brutal measuring stick. Jones' defence - never the same after he smashed his arm to pieces on Joe Vagana's head in 1999 - and his running game no longer measured up. He didn't need to get gunned down by Brad Tighe to know that.
Jones is a legend. But not even the greats can fend off Father Time. That he tried and failed - hardly a small club - isn't a stain on his reputation.
