I remember the 2002 semi final v Cronulla at Telstra. Every man and his dog had written us over here in Australia, it was going to be too hot, our big men would get exposed by Kimmorley and Peachey, it was a Chooks-Sharks final.
10-10. I think it's 3 minutes to go. Last tackle, the Warriors are 20m out, playing the ball from left to right, Jones at first receiver. The Sharks race out of the line, we're all shouting... FIELD GOAL.!!!! FIELD GOAL!!!! Stacey feigns the field goal, grubber kicks pin point 10m right of the post so Peachey can't cover across, John Carlaw comes through...TRY! The greatest moment in Warriors' history, we had truly arrived. And it was ironic that Jones provided it given he'd provided so much else. Yep, it was great that Carlaw, a journeyman who delivered the goods solidly was on the spot, it was great that Marsh and Lauitiiti and Cleary and Campion and the likes were going to get that grand final (particularly Claery who had missed out so often), but Stacey...WOW! The following week in the grand final, he gets the Warriors to 8-6 in front with 25 to go after an amazing 45 metre try, beating 7-8 of them, untouched.
I also remember a game at Penrith, it's close, last tackle, 35 metres out, a Panther comes hard at him to stop the bomb, slow ball to Stacey, he finally gets it, steps right...chips...regathers...chips again...regathers again, scores.
I remember a game against the Roosters, round 2 2002. Last tackle, the Warriors run it to the left, I think Lauitiiti off loads to Cleary, who passes it onto Toopi... Toopi gets an offload to Campion... 45m out, off to Jones... grubber kicks from 45m out, John Carlaw's first ever touch as a Warrior he grabs the ball on the goal line and goes over untouched with no one within cooey. Stacey showed remarkable vision there.
And of course, fiitingly, he last game... 16-20 down at Manly... 4th tackle..10 out from their line... 5 to go... step off the left, step... TRY! He wins his last ever game. His last home game he had three, that's right, three tries disallowed by the video referee.
There was no better site in rugby league than Stacey lighting it up. Kia Kaha, what a truly great ambassador for this game.