James Maloney's professional rugby league swansong failed to produce a fairytale as St Helens, spearheaded by former NRL star Kevin Naiqama, edged his Catalans Dragons outfit to win the Super League grand final.
The France-based Dragons' bid to become the first overseas team to win the Super League came up just short when they lost to St Helens 12-10 in the decider.
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St Helens became only the second team to win a third grand final in succession since the English rugby league championship became the Super League in 1996.
Former Knight, Panther and Tiger Naiqama, wearing St Helens colours for the final time before returning to Australia, delivered the perfect leaving gift with a try in each half at Old Trafford.
Trailing 6-4 at half-time, Catalans regained the lead with their only try through second-rower Mike McMeeken from Josh Drinkwater's lofted kick while the Saints were down to 12 men. Maloney, the oldest player to score a point of any kind in a Super League grand final at 35, converted for 10-6.
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But the clincher by Naiqama from a Jonny Lomax grubber kick came 15 minutes from full-time, converted by former Panther and Cowboy Lachlan Coote, another playing his last match for the Saints.
St Helens coach Kristian Woolf's side completed the league and cup double for the second time.
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"It hurts," Maloney said.
"I'm shattered for the boys. We've done so much, we've worked so hard, but they were just too good.
"You never play the perfect game of footy... You'll always look at, 'What if this, what is that?' That never goes away unfortunately."
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from WWOS https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/super-league-grand-final-james-maloney-st-helens-catalans-dragons-result-scores-highlights-video/59fde475-692d-4ca9-97cf-7e3cb0248185
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