Test hopeful Phil Hughes has failed to post the big score he needed to attract the interest of national selectors, falling for 32 shortly before tea on the third day of NSW's Sheffield Shield encounter with Western Australia at the SCG.
The left-hander caught a thick outside edge after driving at a ball from Ashley Noffke (1-27), presenting a sharp catch to Theo Doropoulos in the gully.
At tea, the Blues are 1-92 in response to WA's 8-(dec)499.
Phil Jaques (40) and Simon Katich (14) are the not out batsmen.
The home side could easily have been two wickets down, Katich lucky to survive after being caught off a Noffke no ball when on three.
Hughes' head dropped as soon as he realised he had blown a good start and a terrific opportunity to post a decent total.
His dig lasted 91 minutes and contained four boundaries.
Both Jaques and Hughes are fighting to regain their Test spots this summer after relinquishing their positions over the past 12 months.
Jaques has looked solid in reaching 40 from 73 balls during nearly two hours in the middle.
He and Hughes had to wait until midway through the third day to make their way to the crease following a series of frustrating rain delays.
Morning showers kept the players off the ground until 2.15pm, with the Warriors declaring at their overnight score.
Magoffin (2) and Josh Mangan (5) were the not out batsmen.
Less than two hours of action was possible on day two after rain prevented a start until 3.15pm.
It was enough time for Luke Ronchi to complete his fourth first class century after being dropped on 99.
The keeper-batsman was fortunate to reach his second ton against the Blues after blasting a well-struck drive to Jaques at short cover when he was on 99.
Jaques was unable to grasp the sharp chance off Burt Cockley's bowling, enabling a relieved Ronchi to pick up two runs.
Doropoulos was untroubled in taking his overnight score from 47 to 61 before top-edging Cockley (1-106) to Ben Rohrer at point.
That ended an invaluable sixth wicket partnership with Ronchi, which yielded 180 runs.
Ashley Noffke made a brisk 31 before being run out with the score on 484.
Fifteen runs later Ronchi's knock came to an end on 148 when he smashed a Stuart Clark (2-86) delivery straight to Rohrer at cover.
Western Australia 1st innings
Robinson b Smith 141
Towers c Smith b Clark 5
Marcus Stoinis c Katich b Smith 22
Marcus North c Hughes b Smith 34
Bandy c Haddin b Stark 32
Doropoulos c Rohrer b Cockley 65
Ronchi c Rohrer b Clark 148
Noffke run out (Thornely) 31
Magoffin not out 2
Mangan not out 5
Extras: 14 (1b, 3lb, 10nb,)
Total: 499 (8 wickets; 122.2 overs)
FOW: 1-19, 2-51, 3-125, 4-235, 5-247, 6-427, 7-484, 8-494
Bowling
Clark 29.2 - 4- 86 - 2
Starc 19.5 - 4 - 55 - 1 (5nb)
Smith 34.1 - 4 - 164 - 3
Cockley 21 - 3 – 106 - 1 (3nb)
Casson 15 - 1 - 68 - 0 (2nb)
Rohrer 3 - 1- 16 – 0
Jaques not out 40
Hughes c Doropoulos b Noffke 32
Katich not out 14
Extras: 6 (1lb, 5nb)
Total: 92 (1 wicket; 26 overs)
FOW: 1-71
Bowling
Magoffin 10 – 2 – 36 - 0 (4nb)
Dorey 7 – 0 – 23 - 0
Noffke 8 – 1 – 27 - 1 (1nb)
North 1 – 0 - 5 - 0