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Nathan Cayless - Source: Getty Images -
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Nathan Cayless endured the embarrassment of his retirement announcement being leaked, a demotion to co-captain status and his beloved Parramatta Eels failing to meet expectations during an unmemorable farewell to the NRL.
And as the former Kiwis skipper's 259-game first grade career draws to a close against the New Zealand Warriors on Saturday he again finds his dignity under threat.
One of the most emotionally draining campaigns of his 14-year career could yet feature an ignominious footnote, even if the New Zealand Warriors are beaten at Parramatta Stadium.
Throughout his career Cayless has forged some remarkable statistics - 3722 hit-ups, 6384 tackles, 29,325 metres gained.
But unless one is amended at the last available opportunity, he faces the dreaded nude run for the fourth consecutive year when the Eels' host their "Mad Monday" wind down.
Cayless has failed to score a try in 23 previous appearances this season and was well aware of the repercussions of this playful sub plot to an otherwise sombre occasion.
"If it's getting close to the end of the game and I haven't got one I'll definitely be hovering around Feleti (Mateo) or Haynesy (Jarryd Hayne) to get a pass off them," he smiled.
And if that fails: "I suppose I hope it's a warm day Monday."
Laconic to the last, Cayless remained a study in stoicism as the club he adopted as a boy lurched from crisis to calamity in 2010, the year that was meant to provide a coveted premiership.
Instead last year's beaten grand finalists - and pre-season favourites to avenge that defeat to Melbourne - languish outside the top eight.
Heading into their final match his teammates motivation is clearly to ensure Cayless is accorded an appropriate send off.
Fellow veteran and co-captain Nathan Hindmarsh briefly summed up the defiant mood:
"As a team, our main focus is to win it for Nath."
Cayless's retirement at the age of 32 ends a significant era at the Eels and Hindmarsh is convinced the prop will be remembered among the pantheon of Parramatta greats.
"He'll go down with the names of Kenny and Price .... Sterling," he said.
"He's a great leader. He doesn't say too much but he works his arse off at training and he puts in on the field every week. He doesn't take shortcuts."
Cayless confirmed his retirement in April and leaves the game content with his achievements, and even though he never wore a premiership ring those grand finals in 2001 and 2009 are among his fondest memories.
"Last year was wonderful, the last three months of the season was like playing a grand final every week," he said, reflecting on the Eels mid-season revival.
"It's just unfortunate we bumped into a team, Melbourne Storm, and everyone knows what happened there ....
"Not everyone gets a fairytale," he said before counting himself lucky.
"My career's been a fairytale, I never thought I'd be playing so long for the club when I was up on the hill in the 80's watching Brett Kenny and Peter Sterling."
There was one happy ending for Cayless, understandably he nominated the 2008 World Cup triumph against the Kangaroos in Brisbane as proudest moment.
"It was just an unbelievable experience, the whole campaign and how everything came together for us on the night."
Cayless ended his 38-Test career on that high note and acknowledged there was no guarantee his domestic service would end in similar fashion.
"It's going to be a very tough game, the Warriors.
"They've been in outstanding form, they smashed us over there," he said of the 35-6 rout at Mt Smart in round 17.
Cayless confessed to shedding a tear when the Wests Tigers effectively ended the
Eels' season on August 18 and conceded it might be difficult to keep his emotions in check one last time.
"I'm sure I'll be nervous and there'll be a lot of emotions going around.
"I've got to try and focus, I really want to have a win and finish a disappointing season on a good note."
