By Sam Ackerman
The curtain closes on one of the great careers in the NRL this weekend with Kiwi Nathan Cayless going out as the longest serving captain in the competition's history.
He leads the Eels into battle one last time against the Warriors on Saturday; 14 years of NRL service – but now just one more appearance for his beloved Parramatta.
The Eels’ failure to make the finals forces retirement of Nathan Cayless earlier than he would have hoped.
He has done it for more than a decade – the 32-year-old breaking the record as the longest serving captain in NRL history.
Saturday's clash will be his 220th in charge and is sure to be emotional.
While he never got his hands on that elusive premiership in the blue and gold he did taste success in the black and white.
Cayless stamped his place in New Zealand sporting folklore as the man who lifted the World Cup for the Kiwis in his 38th and final test.
He's not the only departing Eel the Warriors will be keeping an eye on – two of them will be team mates in 2011.
Kiwis flyer Krisnan Inu and ball playing backrower Feleti Mateo will both be keen to impress their new coach at their future club’s expense.
But there is no more footballing future for Cayless – the Kiwi champion determined to go out a winner.
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