Sharon has quietly helped create order in Sterlo's life. Little adjustments - like making sure he has a diary next to the phone, and reminding him of appointments. Take-away meals and the local laundromat are things of the past.

Times have changed since the decade when Sterling lived according to daily whims. He can't remember particular instances where he abused commitments for a chance to go to the track or to practise his golf - but he was dumped by radio station 2WS because of his unreliability. He can't say exactly why … but I vaguely recall an unscheduled visit to Grafton for the annual two-day race meeting without asking the boss first. He became first grade captain of Parramatta in 1987, but Peter Wynn was given the club captaincy role for fear of Sterlo forgetting an important engagement. Messengers have often chased him all over golf courses to get his columns in on time.

Lack of punctuality or the failure to keep an appointment must, of course, be kept in perspective. In many other ways Sterling has been a model sportsman in the public eye. His is a clean-cut image with never a whiff of scandal about his private life; most times he is willing to give back to the sport that has brought him fame and reasonable wealth. Hell, he's just a fun-loving guy who occasionally surrendered to his penchant for a good time when everyone wanted a piece of him. But it was annoying.

That's all behind him, he reckons. "I don't consider myself unreliable or irresponsible any more. Maybe I've finally matured. Channel Nine, and Ten before that, offered me something attractive and guided me. I also see things in a different way now. Before, I saw things from a young footballer's point of view. Now I can see things through the eyes of others — including the club which I love greatly. What disappoints me most about those past misdemeanours are the people I let down — people I respected. By not turning up, I failed to show that respect. It was always, ‘They'll understand, they know what I'm like.’ Now I realise that's just not good enough. I do work for 2WS now and I am very conscientious about never letting them down. Maybe I'm looking for redemption."

Sydney Football Stadium, July 9, 1988. Third Test, Australia v Great Britain. Sterling runs from a scrum in the opposition half and steps inside. Leeds second-rower Roy Powell breaks quickly and powers into Sterling on the right side just as another Pom sandwiches him from the left. Together they send him earthbound and, without a free left hand to soften the fall, Sterling lands directly on his right shoulder. It's the end of Sterling's 1988 season and, with his retirement from representative football the next year, his Test career as well. Was this the beginning of the end?