Many predicted Johnathan Thurston to be on show on NRL grand final day - but not as part of the retiring players' parade.
In a bittersweet moment, Thurston will take his final bow when he joins 15 players to be honoured in the retiring players' lap of honour at ANZ Stadium on Sunday.
In confirmation not everyone gets the fairytale, Thurston will be joined by the likes of fellow NRL greats Luke Lewis of Cronulla, Brisbane forward Sam Thaiday, Warriors' Simon Mannering and Penrith's Peter Wallace in the grand final ceremony.
Retirees not taking part in the parade are Melbourne's Billy Slater and Ryan Hoffman plus Cronulla's Joseph Paulo.
Four-time Dally M Medallist Thurston is one of the game's greats but will have to settle for the grand final ceremony to see out his 17 season career joining the likes of the more unheralded Jonathan Wright of Manly, Penrith's Tim Browne and Gold Coast's Brenton Lawrence.
Remarkably seven of the retiring 15 players are members of the 300 game club.
"This is an extraordinary group of players," NRL CEO Todd Greenberg said.
"This group has played quite literally thousands of NRL matches, and some of the players being acknowledged are some of our greatest players ever.
"But this list also includes some wonderful ambassadors for the game and I am certain we will see these players represent the game long after their careers have ended."
The 2018 retirees list also includes Parramatta and former NSW forward Beau Scott, St George Illawarra and Kiwis flyer Jason Nightingale, ex-Queensland backrower Jacob Lillyman and England international Chris Heighington.
Full list of 2018 NRL retirees:
- Jonathan Wright (Parramatta, Canterbury, Cronulla, Warriors, Manly; 121 games)
- Peter Wallace (Penrith, Brisbane; 240)
- Tim Browne (Canterbury, Penrith; 103)
- Johnathan Thurston (Canterbury, North Queensland; 323)
- Antonio Winterstein (Brisbane, North Queensland; 214)
- Luke Lewis (Penrith, Cronulla; 324)
- Simon Mannering (Warriors; 301)
- Beau Scott (Cronulla, St George Illawarra, Newcastle, Parramatta; 244)
- Jacob Lillyman (North Queensland, Warriors, Newcastle; 265)
- Chris Heighington (Wests Tigers, Cronulla, Newcastle; 338)
- Brenton Lawrence (Gold Coast, Manly; 104)
- Sam Thaiday (Brisbane; 304)
- Jason Nightingale (St George Illawarra; 266)
- Frank-Paul Nuuausala (Sydney Roosters, Canberra; 233)
- Jason Clark (South Sydney; 169)
- Joseph Paulo (Penrith, Parramatta, Cronulla; 166)
- Billy Slater (Melbourne, 318*)
- Ryan Hoffman (Melbourne, Warriors; 359)
* will play in NRL grand final
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