WITH his last game as a Waratah now behind him, Dan Vickerman's first thought as he arrived at the end-of-season dinner for the Super 14 finalists last night was not about the finish of his career at NSW.

"It will be the Wycliff Palu show tonight. 'Cliffy' has had such a good year," Vickerman said, referring to the Waratahs back-rower being voted by his teammates as the player of the year and awarded the Matthew Burke Cup.

Palu has etched his name as Australia's form No.8 this season - and not just because of his team-high total of six tries.

He has been one of the Waratahs' best defenders and support players whose work rate has seemed limitless.

Palu collected 284 votes to captain Phil Waugh's 274 to win the Matthew Burke Cup.

He also finished highest in the 3-2-1 points-scoring system in three of NSW's 15 games and finished in the top three in five other games.

But Vickerman, third on 259 votes and in contention to beat Palu going into the final, didn't escape due recognition for his services to the Waratahs, who he joined from the Brumbies to extend his tally of Super caps from 33 to 85.

Along the way, he also earned 52 Test caps and remained a loyal servant to his club, Sydney University.

He, like all the players and staff leaving the Waratahs, had his moment in the spotlight.

With a move to England looming, Vickerman, 29 on Wednesday, can't recall one standout highlight at NSW.

That's not surprising, considering his fatigue from Saturday's Super 14 final and the punch he received from Crusaders second-rower Brad Thorn in the 57th minute that led to the Kiwi being yellow-carded.

"It is all pretty good. Just being a part of it with these blokes at Sydney Uni and the Waratahs," he said. "It is one of those things that I will remember forever. I can't pinpoint a memory, at the moment it is all pretty special."

Don't be fooled; despite his tough, uncompromising and physical nature and his astute reading of the game that has resulted in him developing into one of the greats among lineout generals, the emotion does run deep within Vickerman.

When he talks of pride in the jersey and the value of teamwork the emotion resonates in his voice. Just ask any member of last year's Wallabies World Cup side who heard his speech to the team after receiving his 50th Test cap.

The disappointment of failing to bring back the Super 14 trophy to Australia was clear yesterday, but even in defeat Vickerman was able to sign off on his NSW career knowing they had given it their all.

"There are a lot of guys who, as a group, will learn from this," he said. "We chanced our hand, played with the ball and had a go. That was our game plan going into it."

Meanwhile, flanker Rocky Elsom could still join Vickerman, David Lyons, Sam Harris and Ben Jacobs in leaving the Waratahs for an overseas club.

At Saturday night's media conference Waugh referred to Elsom as one of those who would be departing the Tahs.

"No closer to a decision," Elsom said when asked whether he would play in England or stay in Australia.

"If I was heading off, I'd just announce it. We probably couldn't have had a more enjoyable year than we've had.

"But … we had a crack and they were the better team by the end of it."