Andrew McCullough opens up on NRL retirement, who should play hooker for Dragons
Andrew McCullough has landed roles with two different clubs after calling time on his NRL career. He explains his decision to retire and who should replace him as the Dragons hooker.
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Such is the esteem in which Andrew McCullough is held at his former clubs, the Dragons and Broncos will both employ him next season.
McCullough called time on his decorated 15-year career after informing St George Illawarra teammates of his decision on Thursday afternoon.
McCullough had an inkling in the lead up to the final round match against his former club Brisbane that it would be his last.
“My gut feel was that was going to be my last game but I wasn’t fully there yet,” McCullough told News Corp.
“I came up with the decision after that. It just felt right.
“It was my decision. I wasn’t forced to retire. I had 12 months left on my contract and if I wanted to play I could’ve. It’s funny that my last game was against the Broncos.”
McCullough played 309 top grade games and four State of Origin matches for Queensland. While he finished his time with two seasons at the Dragons he will be largely remembered for being a long-time Bronco – playing 260 games for the club.
McCullough has already returned to Brisbane where he will work for the Broncos in game development and the Dragons in a corporate role.
“I’m not directly involved with the first grade team so there will be no conflict of interest,” McCullough said.
“They will both keep me busy. It will be a good transition for me.”
Although McCullough has retired on his terms his body is starting to show the wear and tear associated with being an 80-minute tackling machine in the middle of the field.
“I’ve got some bad arthritis in my left shoulder,” McCullough said.
“My fingers are gone. I’m proud how I bounced back from my ankle injury last year. A lot of people don’t understand that when you’re rehabbing there is no off-season.
“Being a kid from Dalby you just dream about putting that Maroons jersey on. I had a pretty handy player in front of me for a while (in Cameron Smith) and that Queensland team never lost. If I didn’t play Origin I still would have been proud of myself. I worked hard for my teammates. Athletically I wasn’t anything special but I had to find other ways to make me who I am. I enjoyed it along the way.”
McCullough’s retirement now throws up some uncertainty surrounding the Dragons hooking role. They have added ex-Tigers rake Jacob Liddle and have utilities Moses Mbye and Jayden Sullivan on their roster.
“I’m not sure who will start there,” McCullough said.
“It’s going to be a tricky one. Bud (Sullivan) is not there yet defensively to start the game but he might get an opportunity off the bench.
“Defensively they need someone strong to start the game.”
SPORT CON: VETERAN’S RETIREMENT A CAP BOOST FOR DRAGONS
By Michael Carayannis and Brent Read
Dragons veteran Andrew McCullough has called time on his decorated career.
McCullough has been toying with the idea of retiring since the season ended and it is understood he is now expected to pull the pin before the Dragons return to pre-season training. Some of the young Dragons have already returned to training with the non-World Cup players due back on Friday. It is unlikely McCullough will be among that group and he has started to tell his teammates that he will not be joining them.
The 32-year-old still had a year to run on his contract. It is unclear if he will remain with the Dragons in an off-field role.
McCullough has had a 15-year career and cracked the 300 club this year. He made his debut for the Broncos in 2008 and went on to play 260 games for the club. He joined the Dragons in 2021 and has long had a close relationship with coach Anthony Griffin and skipper Ben Hunt.
Just last month Hunt urged McCullough to finish out his deal.
“I want Macca to go around,” Hunt said. “It’s understated what he has done for our team.”
Uncertainty surrounding McCullough’s future has been around since during the season but he was adamant he would play on otherwise the club would have given him a farewell in their last match of the season – which was against the Broncos.
McCullough played the last of his four games for Queensland just last year but injury and the pace of the game has crept up on him.
The Dragons are unlikely to pursue a dummy half for next season but remain in the market to try and land a big scalp for 2024. They have added former Wests Tigers rake Jacob Liddle and he is expected to battle it out with Moses Mbye for the starting hooker role. Jayden Sullivan also spent time at hooker this year and could become the bench utility.
They wanted ex-Dragon Reece Robson to return to the club in 12 months time but he has opted to re-sign with the Cowboys.
Meanwhile, the Dragons are now in the market to replace Shane Flanagan who has stepped aside from his role as the club’s list manager.
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Manly have re-signed player of the year Lachlan Croker for a further 12 months. Croker will get another crack at cementing himself as the club’s long-term hooker after agreeing to remain at the club until at least 2024.
The unheralded 25-year-old has been consistent for the Sea Eagles since making the permanent switch from the halves to hooker last year. He is part of a raft of re-signings the Sea Eagles have announced in recent weeks including Morgan Boyle (2023), Reuben Garrick (2027), Zac Fulton (2024), Sean Keppie (2026), Jason Saab (2026), Haumole Olakau’atu (2025).
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Dolphins and Tongan star Isaiya Katoa is at the centre of an international tug-of-war after it emerged that NSW officials had attempted to convince him to play for the Blues under 19s this year with a view to representing Australia down the track.
Confidential understands that New Zealand coach Michael Maguire has also had an eye on the 18-year-old, who more than held his own for Tonga at the World Cup.
“He is someone we really identified,” said Samoan coach Matt Parish, who is involved in the Blues pathways.
“He is born and bred in western Sydney. We wanted to pick him in the NSW under 19 squad.”
Katoa walked away from the World Cup with his reputation enhanced after he held his own against Samoa in the quarterfinals.
St George Illawarra second rower Jaydn Su’a spent 80 minutes terrorising Katoa last weekend but the teenager never shirked his duties.
It was a good sign for the Dolphins as they prepare for their inaugural season in March.
“I take my hat off to him,” Parish said.
“He got roughed up early (against Samoa) but he stuck to it.”
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Kangaroos superstar Latrell Mitchell wants to help design an indigenous jersey for the Australian team and he plans to broach the idea with national coach Mal Meninga.
“To be honest I would love to see an Australian jersey we play in with an indigenous design,” Mitchell said.
“Me and Mal will have a yarn - it is up to the big fella too. I know he would definitely be keen on that.
“The Wallabies do it really well but I reckon we could potentially do it as well, maybe better.
“Hopefully we get a few more Tests over the next few years and I would definitely be proud to see it happen.”
The Kangaroos have been wearing a specially-designed training shirt representing Australia at their captain’s run on game eve at the World Cup, but Mitchell would like to take things a step further.
The South Sydney star took it upon himself to investigate the design of the captain’s run kit and explained its significance to his teammates before they came on tour.
“It represents all of Australia,” Mitchell said.
“It represents the mountain ranges and the rivers - everything that surrounds us as a country.
“The dot paint on the back represents the states we live in. I got a bit of information on it … and spoke about what it is, what it represents and how proud I am to wear it.”
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South Sydney owner and Oscar-winning actor Russell Crowe has handed George Burgess a career lifeline after casting the English front rower in his latest Hollywood blockbuster - Land of Bad.
Burgess, who parted ways with St George Illawarra last month after a fallout with coach Anthony Griffin, posted an image on his Instagram account on Wednesday afternoon (AEDT) in full army regalia with the caption: “Military fade”.
Confidential understands that Burgess is playing the role of Private Cooper in Crowe’s latest blockbuster, which also features Liam and Luke Hemsorth.
The former England international has long harboured an interest in acting. He made his feature film debut in 2019 in the thriller Locusts and then landed another role in 2021 in a sci-fi thriller film Ascendant.
He put his acting aspirations on the backburner when he returned to the NRL with the Dragons but his time at the club came to an ugly end, leaving him free to chase acting roles.
The 30-year-old joined the Dragons in 2022 on a two-year deal after overcoming a hip injury that prematurely ended his time in the UK Super League.
He played just a handful of games for the Dragons before being relegated to the NSW Cup side and, later, being granted a leave of absence by the club to enter a rehabilitation facility for personal reasons.
The stint in rehab followed Burgess being charged by NSW Police in March with secually touching a woman in Sydney.
Burgess was charged after the woman made a complaint at Mascot police station in the city’s south.
According to court documents, Burgess is alleged to have “sexually touched the woman’s bottom without her consent” between 10.20am and 10.45am on March 8.
Burgess has entered a plea of not guilty and will face a hearing in 2023.
In Land of Bad, Crowe plays the role of Reaper - an Air Force drone pilot supporting a Delta Force special ops mission in the South Philippines.
After the mission goes off the rails, Crowe is given 48 hours to save the situation. Liam Hemsworth, best known for his role in The Hunger Games plays an air controller.
The movie is being filmed on Queensland’s Gold Coast.
* * * * *
The Kangaroos found themselves training at the home of the Sale Sharks rugby union club this week and among those watching on were young half Raffi Quirke.
Quirke is well known to some of the Australian players. Last year, as he was recovering from a hamstring injury, incoming Manly coach Anthony Seibold arranged for him to spend some time in Sydney visiting NRL clubs.
He spent more than a week at the Sydney Roosters and also hung out with Penrith playmaker Nathan Cleary.
On the wall inside the Sale Sharks training venue is a photo of Quirke with Cleary in Penrith gear.
They were reunited at Sale this week. The 21-year-old is a mad rugby league fan and won’t rule out switching to the NRL at some point in his career.
* * * * *
PLENTY of teams go on pre-season camps but the Sharks coaching staff have spent some time as a group in Kiama last week. The staff – led by coach Craig Fitzgibbon – went through a raft of planning ahead of the players returning to training.
* * * * *
NEWCASTLE are adamant Tyson Frizell is not going anywhere. The Knights have spoken to Frizell and told him they want him to see out the final year of his deal next season. Frizell took up his option to remain at Newcastle for 2023 and the club are open to extending his deal. He took out the club’s player of the year award this year.
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AUSSIE boxing announcer Steve Peios has headed to the soccer World Cup in Qatar to be the lead ground match day presenter for the tournament. Peios will also host the World Cup trophy presentation and introducing the national anthems and countdown to kick-off for the final.
“I am very excited that the World Cup has finally come around and to be pitchside, especially at the World Cup Final, with billions watching and listening in will be massive,” Peios said. “I can’t wait”.
* * * * *
England coach Shaun Wane has hit out at suggestions England have been given a leg-up at the World Cup.
In doing so, he may have provided New Zealand with added motivation heading into the semi-finals.
Told that other nations have been privately complaining about apparent favouritism from organisers towards England, Wane hinted that he expected to play Australia in the finals.
“Aussies play on Friday and we are Saturday - 24 hours in a steam room,” Wane said.
“They have another 24 hours on us.”
New Zealand coach Michael Maguire has no doubt taken note.
* * * * *
Junior Paulo has found some unlikely support after being cleared to play in Saturday night’s (AEDT) semi-final against England at Emirates Stadium.
England front rower Tom Burgess said he was happy for Paulo that he had a win at the judiciary after he was charged with dangerous contact for using his forearm against Tonga’s David Fifita.
“He is their captain, he is the captain for a reason,” Burgess said.
“He is very important to their team, he plays big minutes, he is a great player.
“He led Parramatta to a grand final this season. He is massive for them. For me, I didn’t really see the incident but just let him play.”
Burgess has been one of the stars of the England side that has home fans dreaming of a World Cup.
He will head into the Samoa game on an impressive try-scoring streak.
“Four in (four) games but I am not really counting,” he said.
“I might get thrown out of the front rower’s union if I score again this weekend.”
As for Samoa, Burgess believes they will be a much different proposition to the opening game of the tournament, when they were eviscerated by England.
It didn’t help that Samoa’s Penrith players were celebrating their grand final win, leaving the side with only one training session to prepare for their World Cup opener.
“They definitely had a few players in that grand final … and I think they had one session before that game,” Burgess said.
“We know they are going to be a better side coming out on Saturday for sure.”
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Bevan French was almost on his way back to the NRL this season to be at Newcastle.
Instead, he is the face of Super League giants Wigan as they attempt to drive interest in the team next season.
French is front and centre on billboard promoting Wigan.
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Match officials at the World Cup have been rubbing shoulders with Premier League royalty coming in and out of their accommodation Manchester. Referee Todd Smith worked up the courage of ask Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola for a picture after realising the football legend was staying in the same apartment block.
Confidential understands former Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand has also been spotted at the apartment building.
* * * * *
Former Geordie Shore star Gaz Beadle went to his first rugby league game last weekend.
Now he is hooked thanks to Kangaroos star Nathan Cleary, who lined up tickets for Beadle to attend Saturday morning’s (AEDT) semi-final between Australia and New Zealand.
Beadle is one of the biggest social media stars in England after starring in Geordie Shore and then Ex on the Beach.
He has more than 3.5 million followers on Instagram. He posted a picture with Cleary to his army of fans after Australia’s win over Lebanon last weekend thanking him for getting tickets to the New Zealand game.
Originally published as Andrew McCullough opens up on NRL retirement, who should play hooker for Dragons
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