On May 16, 2000, Ricky Stuart's career ended abruptly due to a ruptured ACL injury.
Exactly 25 years and one week ago - May 16, 2000 - Ricky Stuart crumpled to the ground in Auckland. In an instant, one of the great playmaking careers was over.
The champion halfback had ruptured his ACL and knew it immediately. But the Herald reported a surprisingly upbeat dressing room interview given Stuart had just had "retirement handed to me in one moment".
Then 33, Stuart had just a week earlier sat down with his manager, John Fordham, and Bulldogs top brass Bob Hagan and Barry Nelson, as well as NRL coach Steve Folkes, to discuss a post-playing move into coaching.