NRL retirements: Benji Marshall headlines the class of 2021

Of all the players set to retire, or be retired, in 2021, none will leave a legacy quite as impressive as Benji Marshall.

Benji Marshall could be delivered a fairytale farewell, with the rugby league legend expected to announce his retirement from the game before the year is over.

Marshall and Josh Morris are the only players in the finals with a chance to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith and finish their careers with a crown.

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Here are 24 players who we will not see next year with some retiring and others forced to chase opportunities overseas:

Benji Marshall has done it all in rugby league: Picture: Dan Peled/Getty Images

Benji Marshall, 36, Rabbitohs, 342 NRL Games

Expected to retire at the end of the year bringing to a close a career that saw him win Dally M five-eighth of the year award in 2011, Golden Boot Award in 2010 and named the RLIF Five-Eighth of the Year in 2009 and 2011.

Anthony Don, 33, Titan, 152 NRL Games

Only played 152 games but late-bloomer Don will be remembered as a Gold Coast great after scoring 85 tries for the club.

Alex Glenn, 33, Broncos, 285 NRL Games

Finishes his career as a one-club man with a career that spanned from 2009-2021 and included 12 Tests for New Zealand and two for the Cook Islands.

The Roosters farewelled club greats, and captains, Jake Friend and Boyd Cordner in 2021. Picture: AAP Image/Craig Golding

Boyd Cordner, 29, Roosters, 183 NRL Games

In one of the year’s saddest stories, Cordner’s stellar career was cut short by one head knock too many.

Jake Friend, 31, Roosters, 268 NRL Games

Another big blow for the Roosters and rugby league, Friend is another player calling it quits due to the mounting toll of concussions.

Blake Green, 34 Knights, 179 NRL Games

A true journeyman, Green played for seven NRL clubs in an underrated career.

Trent Merrin, 31, Dragons, 225 NRL Games

Not the player he was during his first stint with the Dragons, Merrin unselfishly stepped aside earlier this year to finish an all-boxes-ticked career.

Persistent injuries limited Michael Morgan late in his career. Picture: Alix Sweeney

Michael Morgan, 29, Cowboys, 168 NRL Games

Injury cut short a career that peaked in 2016 when he almost led the Cowboys to a grand final.

Brett Morris, 35, Roosters, 276 NRL Games

Arguably the NRL’s greatest finisher, Brett’s swan song season was devastated by a knee injury.

Josh Morris, 35, Roosters, 322 NRL Games

A premiership would be a fitting finale for one of the game’s greatest centres.

Justin O’Neill, 30, Cowboys, 190 NRL Games

Former Maroon retired earlier this year after succumbing to a chronic knee injury.

Will Chambers may have played his final game of rugby league. Picture: NRL Images

Will Chambers, 35, Sharks, 226 NRL games

Unable to secure another deal. It is understood the former State of Origin star is not interested in a Super League deal and may have already played his final game.

Leeson Ah Mau 31, Warriors, 223 NRL games

Adamant he is not retiring but will have to take a cut-price deal to continue in the NRL. We have been told there is interest from one club but the Super League is looking likely.

Gerard Beale, 31, Sharks, 203 NRL games

Could snare a Super League deal but unwanted in NRL.

Dale Copley, 30, Roosters, 148 NRL games

Unlikely to earn another deal.

Josh Dugan, 31, Sharks, 215 NRL games

A Covid infringement all but ended Dugan’s NRL career, with the former Blues star unwanted by all 16 NRL clubs. The former Blues star is likely to retire despite having been linked to Japanese rugby and the English Super League.

Ryley Jacks, 29, Storm, 48 NRL games

Linked to the Dragons, only a minimum-wage deal as a back-up will save his NRL career.

Joseph Leilua, 29, Tigers, 224 NRL games

On the outer after falling foul at the Tigers.

Dylan Napa, Bulldogs, 173 NRL games

Napa’s NRL career is all but over after a disappointing stint with the Bulldogs. A shadow of his Origin-playing self, Napa will be forced to play in the Super League after the Broncos backed away from a deal.

Dylan Napa is searching for a contract. Picture: Alix Sweeney

Corey Norman, Dragons, 227 NRL games

Not a single offer to stay in the NRL. Searching for Super League deal.

Michael Oldfield, 30, Eels, 57 NRL games

Attempting to secure another one-year deal with the Eels but could find himself out in the cold.

Mitch Rein, 31, Titans, 205 NRL games

Hasn’t given up hope of continuing his NRL career but has few options.

Sam Williams, 30, Raiders, 103 NRL games

Will likely head back to the Super League unless the Raiders offer him another short-term deal.

Aaron Woods, 30, Sharks, 233 NRL games

Hoping an 11th-hour deal will spare him. Told he was not wanted at Cronulla, Woods has not received a single offer despite reported interest from the Eels and the Tigers. He has ruled out a Super League switch.

Aaron Woods could be without a club next season. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty

Retiring Morris bro has something big brewing

- Fatima Kdouh

His Sydney Roosters teammates were there to honour his illustrious NRL career, but they reserved their loudest cheer for Josh Morris’ other announcement on Monday afternoon.

The launch of his and twin brother Brett’s post football venture – a craft lager.

Teammates erupted with cheers and laughter at the sneaky plug.

Josh Morris celebrates with his Roosters teammates after scoring one of his 157 NRL tries.

“We have a punters club with a few mates called ‘Cattleman‘s Crew’ and thought how good would it be if we came up with our own beer,” Morris said.

“(So) this week, myself, Brett and a few other mates will be launching a beer, Cattleman’s Larger, a mid-strength lager, we’re all dads and we can’t drink full strength beer anymore.

“That was a pipe dream four or five years ago, but over the past year we have developed something we are really proud of … that’s going to be a project after football.”

Morris held back tears as he confirmed that the 322 games he has amassed since making his NRL debut back in 2007 had taken an irreparable toll on his 35-year old body.

“I probably knew before halfway this year was going to be my last … my body was starting to fail me and I wasn’t able to play or train at a standard that I thought was befitting of this jersey.”

The decision to hang up the boots comes almost three months after an ACL injury ended Brett’s career.

Josh and Brett Morris are leaving the stage at the same time.

Unlike Brett, who has two premiership rings, the NRL‘s highest prize has so far eluded the decorated centre.

But the brothers do share one piece of rugby league history – both are in the top 10 of all-time try scorers.

Brett is fourth on the list with 176 tries from 276 games, while Josh is 10th with 157 tries.

“My best mate, we’ve literally been on this journey together from the start,” Morris said of his brother.

“I wouldn’t be half the player I am – nowhere near the player I am – without you pushing me.

“Spending time apart from each other at different clubs just pushes us to higher heights, we were able to play for Australia and NSW together, but to play alongside each other and get the best out of each other, it’s something I’ll forever be grateful for.

Morris was still the master of the four-pointer even when he got into his mid 30s.

“I love you, mate, you’re going into coaching next year and you’ll make that a great success.”

As well as thanking all his former clubs, coaches and teammates, Morris reserved special mention for his family, particularly his mother Karen and wife Elise.

But it was his father and former St George great, Steve ‘Slippery’ Morris, who started the family’s rugby league legacy way back in 1979.

“When I overtook dad I told him he was the third top tryscorer in the family, he didn’t like that very much,” Morris said.

“It’s a famous football name, there would have been pressure on us from a very young age but he never put that on us, nor did mum.

“But for me and Brett, that was the only option. We loved our football so much we wanted to be first grade footballers.”

The Morris twins back where it all started.

Morris joined the coveted 300-club in 2019, his first season in the Tricolours, and will add to his 322 game tally when he returns from a hamstring injury against Canberra on Thursday night.

“After what we’ve seen, the challenges and setbacks of this year, we haven’t made that an excuse … we’re sitting in a good position and we have troops coming back,” Morris said.

“A lot of people have written us off but internally we haven’t. I’m looking forward to getting back out there and giving it a shake with these boys.”

Morris’ return from a month lay-off could not come at a better time for the injury-ravaged Roosters with the veteran slotting in for Joey Manu who suffered a severe facial fracture after an ugly head high tackle from South Sydney’s Latrell Mitchell.

“It’s disappointing what happened to Joey, I think if Latrell played another game this year there would have been a fair stink up about it. We lost a player in Joey who plays the game very fairly and with integrity. Latrell’s mates with him but he got it wrong and paid the price for that,” Morris said.

Monday’s retirement announcement was the fourth for the Roosters in a matter of months with Brett, Boyd Cordner and Jake Friend also walking away from rugby league this year.

Originally published as NRL retirements: Benji Marshall headlines the class of 2021