BY CURTIS WOODWARD

@woodward_curtis

Think of every kid that ever laced a footy boot and then consider how many of them never actually make it to top flight rugby league? So many more miss out than actually get to live their dream in the NRL.

It is rarely celebrated but anyone, even if it is one game, should be recognised.

Some have become far more successful in their post-playing days too.

Thanks to the incredible Rugby League Project website, we’ve gone back and found every player of the NRL era that was one-and-done.

Part II.

Todd Ollivier
Sydney Roosters 2003
Round 17, bench vs Rabbitohs @ Sydney Football Stadium
Result: Roosters 38 def. Rabbitohs 10

A rugby union junior, Ollivier played seven games for the Waratahs before switching to the Roosters. He then returned to union, playing in Italy and France.

Dayne Neirinckx
Canterbury Bulldogs 2003
Round 26, centre vs Sharks @ Shark Park
Result: Bulldogs 28 def. Sharks 14

Would find a contract at Halifax in England after his NRL debut and represented the Netherlands at international level. Cut his teeth in the juniors at the Parramatta Eels.

Mark Robinson
New Zealand Warriors 2003
Round 8, hooker vs Bulldogs @ WestpacTrust Stadium
Result: Bulldogs 18 def. Warriors 12

A Super Rugby star at the Auckland Blues, Robinson had already represented the All Blacks on eight occasions before his switch to the Warriors in 2003.

Gavin Quinn
Newcastle Knights 2003
Round 8, wing vs Storm @ Olympic Park
Result: Storm 46 def. Knights 6

Would later win a premiership with the Maitland Pickers in the Newcastle first grade competition.

Tony Duggan
Brisbane Broncos 2003
Round 18, fullback vs Bulldogs @ Suncorp Stadium
Result: Bulldogs 40 def. Broncos 4

The Broncos had a field day at Lang Park on their way to the 2004 premiership. Duggan then left for Welsh club Crusaders where he scored 101 tries in 88 appearances between 2006 and 2009.

Nathan McMillan
Parramatta Eels 2003
Round 10, bench vs Sea Eagles @ Brookvale Oval
Result: Sea Eagles 36 def. Eels 34

McMillan is now a mechanical engineer. From nathanmcmillan.com: “My true passion lies in designing and making products. I am an avid drone enthusiast, owning two UAV’s and operating an aerial photography business in my spare time. I was qualified as a UAV operator in December 2015, finishing top in my course with a perfect practical record.”

Craig Hayne
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 2003
Round 20, bench vs Broncos @ Suncorp Stadium
Result: Sea Eagles 26 def. Broncos 20

Luke Dyer
Penrith Panthers 2004
Round 17, wing vs Storm @ Olympic Park
Result: Storm 66 def. Panthers 14

Went on to play for Castleford, Hull KR and Crusaders in the Super League and represented Wales in 2007. Returned to Australia and played in the QLD Cup and went into the abseiling business.

Mark Lennon
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 2004
Round 22, bench vs Panthers @ Penrith Park
Result: Panthers 72 def. Sea Eagles 12

Another Welshman with a debut in the NRL in 2004 but probably wished he wasn’t a late inclusion for the Sea Eagles with the Panthers destroying the visitors, 72-12. Made his debut in the Super League in 2001 and played 79 games, donning the Welsh jersey on the international stage 16 times between 2001 and 2011. Australian-born, Lennon is a primary school teacher in Sydney.

Paul Atkins
New Zealand Warriors 2004
Round 25, bench vs Roosters @ Mt Smart Stadium
Result: Roosters 30 def. Warriors 24

In a true ‘welcome to first grade’, Atkins’ first two touches saw him run into legendary enforcer Adrian Morley. “Kids come out of the Bartercard Cup and the one thing I know they have in abundance is courage,” Warriors coach Tony Kemp said post-match. “He has got the courage of a lionheart. I knew he has been one of the toughest kids I have been watching for two years so he obviously relished his opportunity but he left his step on the bench.”

Kane Ferris
New Zealand Warriors 2004
Round 25, bench vs Roosters @ Mt Smart Stadium
Result: Roosters 30 def. Warriors 24

A Junior Kiwi, Ferris debuted right alongside Atkins in Auckland against the Roosters.

Herewini Rangi
New Zealand Warriors 2004
Round 20, bench vs Roosters @ Bruce Stadium
Result: Raiders 30 def. Warriors 29

Another Junior Kiwi, Rangi came off the bench for the Warriors in a heartbreaking loss in Canberra. The dummy half then headed to Queensland to chase a contract but suffered a spinal injury after colliding with a goal post in 2008.

Mark Christensen
South Sydney Rabbitohs 2004
Round 22, wing vs Wests Tigers @ Leichhardt Oval
Result: Wests Tigers 56 def. Rabbitohs 6

A gun goalkicker growing up in Queensland, the winger won a contract with the Dragons in 2001 and spent two years in reserve grade. After debuting for Souths at Leichhardt, Christensen moved back Redcliffe, playing for the Dolphins and becoming a personal trainer. He is the founder of Prodigy Strength & Fitness.

Peter Taylor
South Sydney Rabbitohs 2005
Round 3, bench vs Raiders @ Sydney Football Stadium
Result: Raiders 25 def. Rabbitohs 18

Kurt Hancock
Newcastle Knights 2005
Round 14, bench vs Eels @ EnergyAustralia Stadium
Result: Eels 50 def. Knights 0

Went on to play in bush footy and then into the coaching ranks. Is the current coach of the Western Rams representative side.

Mailangi Styles
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 2006
Round 11, bench vs Storm @ Brookvale Oval
Result: Sea Eagles 34 def. Storm 12

Had a short stint at Leigh Centurions post-Manly and now works as a recruitment consultant in Sydney.

Marcus Perenara
Parramatta Eels 2006
Round 5, bench vs Panthers @ Parramatta Stadium
Result: Panthers 44 def. Eels 18

Brother of former NRL forward and referee Henry, the Auckland halfback made his one appearance in the NRL at Parramatta Stadium from the bench against the Panthers in 2006. Yours truly played for the Magpies against a touring Under 16’s Kiwi side that included Perenara at Campbelltown Stadium in 2002. That game was also officiated by a young referee (a little older than Marcus and I) from Wollongong by the name of Luke Potter – a hall of fame member of The81stMinute NSW Cup Commentary Team. For the record, the Kiwis won by 30 but your writer did score a try in the second stanza. Little wins.

Keith Eshman
Wests Tigers 2006
Round 22, bench vs Storm @ Olympic Park
Result: Storm 46 def. Wests Tigers 4

Toshio Laiseni
Cronulla Sharks 2006
Round 18, fullback vs Wests Tigers @ Shark Park
Result: Wests Tigers 22 def. Sharks 10

The second one-game player of the NRL era to make his one appearance as a starting fullback. Signed with the Cowboys in 2007 but didn’t play another NRL game although he did represent Tonga on a couple of occasions including the 2008 World Cup.

Steve Meredith
Sydney Roosters 2006
Round 6, bench vs Broncos @ Sydney Football Stadium
Result: Broncos 24 def. Roosters 6

Was hired to work with the NRL in retirement including the role of general manager of community programs.

Sione Finefeuiaki
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 2007
Round 16, bench vs Dragons @ Kogarah Oval
Result: Sea Eagles 22 def. Dragons 16

A monster of a man, Finefeuiaki was originally signed by the Roosters in 2001 and also spent a season in the lower grades at Melbourne. During his playing days, the Tongan prop finished 3rd in the South Pacific Body Building Championships. Now living in Newcastle, Finefeuiaki is the founder of ‘Sione’s Foundation’. From sionesfoundation.com.au: “For over three years, Sione’s Foundation has conducted aid missions to support our brothers and sisters in Tonga. Our goal is to build an Excellence Sporting Facility to educate the children of Tonga in all areas of academics, as well as provide opportunity through a focussed sports program.”

John Frith
North Queensland Cowboys 2007
Round 11, bench vs Bulldogs @ Suncorp Stadium
Result: Cowboys 26 def. Bulldogs 16

Son of 1970’s Rabbitohs firebrand Charlie. The family owns and operates the Glen Arden Cattle Company in southern Queensland.

Alwyn Simpson
Brisbane Broncos 2007
Qualifying final, wing vs Storm @ Olympic Park
Result: Storm 40 def. Broncos 0

The first player on the list to make his debut in a finals series. A week earlier he played for Redcliffe in the QLD Cup grand final which was a fair effort after sustaining serious injuries after being hit by a car a year earlier.

Liam Georgetown
Penrith Panthers 2007
Round 16, fullback vs Broncos @ Penrith Park
Result: Broncos 24 def. Panthers 16

Would go on to play for Boston 13’s in the American league. Holds the record for most points scored at the Redcliffe Dolphins club.

@woodward_curtis