Study a defeated NRL coach in the dressing room after a loss, and he can look as if he has stepped into a grave: sunken, shallow, drained.

Meanwhile, some of his players are still on the field chatting brightly with the winners or kneeling, arms locked in prayer, with their opposites.

Across in the other dressing room, surrounded by a milling group of club officials and directors, the victorious coach is ebullient, joyful, relieved.

That scenario was only half right........

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