Redcliffe Dolphins fan favourite Nick Slyney hangs up his boots

The Redcliffe Dolphins will be missing a fan favourite this season with a former captain and Brisbane Broncos player announcing his retirement from rugby league.

Nick Slyney has announced his retirement from the Redcliffe Dolphins.

REDCLIFFE Dolphins fan favourite Nick Slyney has decided to hang up his boots.

The workhorse front rower has had a stellar football career that has included playing for North Queensland Cowboys and Brisbane Broncos in the NRL, and for the London Broncos in the Super League in England.

Nick Slyney in action for the North Queensland Cowboys.

Slyney, who played for the Dolphins in the losing 2012 grand final before heading overseas for a few years, said winning a premiership at Redcliffe was one of the main reasons, along with friendships, he returned to Dolphin Oval in 2017.

In his first season back at the club, Slyney collected his second Peter Leis Medal as Player of the Year.

Nick Slyney in action for the Brisbane Broncos.

This year, the 30-year-old started as captain of the Intrust Super Cup side but battled injury and relinquished the role to Cameron Cullen.

Slyney managed to fight back from injury to help the Dolphins win their sixth premiership in the 23 years of the Intrust Super Cup with a 36-22 win against Easts Tigers.

Slyney, who will finish his electrical apprenticeship at the end of this year, said his knee had given him strife this season and was still not 100 per cent.

He said throughout the season he did not expect it would be his last, but when it came time to re-sign he “just knew it was time (to stop)”.

“My knee still isn’t the best,” Slyney said.

Slyney said his career highlights were his NRL debuts for both the Cowboys in 2008 and Broncos in 2012 — “the team he grew up supporting”.

“They were both pretty memorable,” Slyney said.

Slyney said with a baby due New Year’s Eve, he wanted to be home more to enjoy the next stage of his life.

“Playing football is a pretty big commitment,” Slyney said.

Slyney, who lives at Kippa-Ring, said he would still head down to Dolphin Stadium to cheer the boys on next season.

Nick Slyney (bottom right) after the Redcliffe Dolphins won the Intrust Super Cup final this year. Picture: Peter Wallis.

Dolphins Intrust Super Cup coach Adam Mogg said sometimes footballers did not get the fairytale finish to their careers they often deserved, but he was “super happy” Slyney could finish with a premiership pin.

“Someone of his calibre deserves that,” Mogg said.

“Slyney is a fantastic guy and a real leader.”

Nick Slyney with the James Ackerman Cup last year. Picture: Mark Calleja

Mogg said Slyney, who always put the team first, would be missed, but there was a bevy of “really good young players” looking to make their mark at the club; a silver lining to losing Slyney.

“This creates an opportunity for someone else,” Mogg said.

“Hopefully (Slyney) will still be around at the club in some capacity.”

Dolphins stalwart Jon Sloan said Slyney was “a fantastic guy, a really good clubman”.

Sloan said Slyney, who hails from Malanda, had “country boy mannerisms” but was a “fierce competitor” with a work ethic that was second to none — “both on the field during the games and off the field at training”.

“He’s a real old school footballer who loves a beer and a chat after the game and I think that’s what I’ll miss the most about him,” Sloan said.

“I’m good mates with Nick and I rate him as one of the best guys I’ve met through footy right up there with Petero, Adam Starr, Troy Lindsay and the likes.”

Dolphins football general manager Grant Cleal said on the club’s website Slyney’s contribution to the Dolphins had been immense.

“Nick has been a great leader at the club and the type of player who makes others be the best they can be,” Cleal said.

“We want to thank Nick for everything he has done for the club and wish him and his wife Shannon the very best of luck for their life outside football, which includes welcoming their first child later this year.”