Rugby-bound Timana Tahu said he played every game of this NRL season like a grand final but after Parramatta's preliminary final loss to Melbourne, he will miss out on the real thing.
Despite the 26-10 defeat Tahu signed off from his nine-year league career in style, among the Eels' best in a torrid encounter at Telstra Dome.
"It's a bit disappointing, I was looking for that fairy-tale ending but it didn't happen," said Tahu, who will play for the NSW Waratahs in the Super 14 next season.
"I'm pretty shattered because now it's the end of my NRL career but I'm looking forward to rugby and looking forward to what's coming ahead.
"I don't have any regrets at all, it's disappointing to lose tonight but my career's just turned to a new chapter and I'm looking for bigger and better things."
Parramatta coach Michael Hagan said his departure was a huge loss for the club and the game.
"His last eight weeks have been tremendous for the Parramatta club and he laid on a tremendous pass for (Krisnan) Inu to almost score in the corner early on in the second half," Hagan said.
"He's been aggressive and quality every week so he's going to be a loss for sure."
Tahu said that after an early-season injury he set himself the challenge of playing his best football in his final year.
"Early in the year when I tore my hamstring I was out for seven games and I was getting a bit frustrated and I told myself that I'd treat every game like a grand final.
"One thing I wanted to do was to enjoy my last year of games and I feel like I've gone out on a high because I've played my hardest and never left anything in the tank."
He has set his sights on playing rugby for Australia, and has kept a close eye on the Wallabies' progress at the World Cup in France.
He said his reasons for leaving league were the boredom and physical grind of playing 26 NRL rounds plus finals and representative football.
"It takes a toll on your body after a while so hopefully going to rugby union might prolong my career and I'll get to play a world-class, truly international game."
As well as five Test matches and 11 State of Origin games for NSW, Tahu won a premiership with Newcastle in 2001 before switching to Parramatta and his said it was the friendships that he had built at both clubs he would probably miss the most.
"Rugby league got me to where I am today, from the early days at Newcastle and getting the chance to play first grade," he said.
