In the 1998 preliminary final Parramatta were leading arch rivals Canterbury 18-2 with less than 10 minutes to play and then what can only be described as the greatest choke in Rugby League preliminary finals history occurred. Canterbury managed to fight their way back into the match and with a minute left on the scoreboard, winger Daryl Halligan kicked a conversion from out on the far touchline to send the game into extra time. Canterbury won in extra time 32-20. The loss was hard to take for Parramatta as they had beaten eventual premiers Brisbane twice during the season.