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If you type in 'Paul Vaughan' into YouTube there will sit on the top of the page the most memorable moment of the Raiders prop's career.

It was Round 7, 2014, when Vaughan stepped up to the plate in the final two minutes to score a match-winning try against the Storm – the Raiders' opponents in this weekend's preliminary final showdown at AAMI Park. 

Vaughan left commentators in awe after producing three-consecutive right-foot goose steps to fool six Storm players on his way to the try-line. 

The Melbourne defenders were no easybeats either, with Vaughan leaving Kiwis representative Tohu Harris and Kangaroos captain Cameron Smith in his wake, among others. 

Vaughan's barnstorming run to help set up Jarrod Croker's try just after half-time in the Raiders' semi-final win over the Panthers last week brought memories back of his famous try against the Storm.  

The three-time Country Origin representative is hoping for much of the same this weekend at the end of what has been a stop-start season.

"Hopefully I can produce another one this weekend. It would come in handy at this stage of the season," Vaughan told NRL.com. 

"It's probably the greatest moment of my career so far and something that I look back on. It makes me happy. 

"It's a good thing to have those sort of moments in your career so I'm still pretty happy about what happened there." 

Vaughan has been sighted in Ricky Stuart's first-choice 17 just three times since the Raiders' last bye in Round 19.

However a devastating ankle injury to young forward Clay Priest has handed Vaughan an opportunity to play in the biggest game of his career on Saturday night. 

 

The 25-year-old didn't shy away from discussion his demotion. In fact, Vaughan thanked Stuart for dropping him down to play for Mounties in the Intrust Super Premiership. 

"I think it's something I needed actually. I needed to go back and get my form and confidence back," Vaughan said.

"I wasn't really playing good enough footy and during that time I went to Ricky's office and told him I was happy he dropped me. 

"You can't go through your career without thinking you're not going to get dropped to reserve grade. Obviously it's hard to take but it's all about having the right attitude.

"You can't really sook about it, you know what I mean? You do that and you bring the whole vibe around the club down if you're going to be selfish and drop your lip."

Vaughan maintained he was happy at the Raiders despite the conjecture surrounding his future beyond this year. 

"There's been so many rumours. I just want to focus on the footy that I know I can play. That's the biggest thing," he said. 

"Last weekend was a step in the right direction. I'm not sure what's going to happen in terms of my future but I want to stay at the Raiders as long as I can."

 

 

Acknowledgement of Country

National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.

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