Cruel blow reduces Bulldogs' Stanley to tears

After a career that has been punctuated by injury, a setback in his long-awaited 100th NRL match was the tipping point for Chase Stanley.

The 26-year-old, a former Kiwi international, was reduced to tears last night after suffering another injury in the Bulldogs' loss to the Raiders.

He'd taken almost a decade to reach the milestone but was forced off the field early in the match when his hamstring failed him.

"100 games up tonight, unfortunately it ends like so many have in his 10-year career," said commentator Warren Smith.

"It's a great shame."

While it was a cruel twist for the resilient Bulldog, television viewers saw for themselves just how much it had impacted Stanley when he broke down in the arms of a teammate at half-time.

Dave Klemmer is widely regarded as one of the NRL’s toughest enforcers, but in that brief moment - after the rest of the Bulldogs players had left the dressing rooms for the second half - he simply played the role of a close mate, consoling Stanley as he came to terms with his latest setback.

It was a sight that personified the highs and lows of sport, and it touched many.

Stanley has played for three NRL clubs after making his debut with the Dragons in 2007.