More than 5000 tackles later, it was a fall that ended Matt Gillett’s career

Matt Gillett made close to 6000 tackles in his bruising NRL career but it was a moment with ball-in-hand that would ultimately end the Brisbane Broncos and Queensland enforcer’s career.

Matt Gillett injured his shoulder playing the Bunnies. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty

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Matt Gillett made more than 5000 tackles in his NRL career but it was an innocuous moment which ultimately brought it to an end.

It was Round 23 at Suncorp Stadium. A Wayne Bennett vs. Anthony Seibold grudge match with four minutes to go – Broncos down by 8.

Gillett broke through the Rabbitohs defensive line before offloading to centre Kotoni Staggs, who went on to score and bring the home side to within two points of a momentous victory.

But what many didn’t see was the hidden pain on Gillett’s face which marked the beginning of the end for the Brisbane workhorse after he injured his shoulder while attempting the offload.

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Matt Gillett injured his shoulder playing the Bunnies. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty

Gillett made 5814 bruising tackles during his NRL career but it was an innocuous fall on his shoulder which inevitably called time on his illustrious NRL career.

He said he knew almost immediately he had injured his shoulder but didn’t think too much about it at the time.

“It was when we played Souths at home,” Gillett said.

“I made a line break and I’ve offloaded to Kotoni and he’s scored a try.

“At the time, I didn’t think (much about it). I obviously hurt it. You go through your career and have injuries and bumps.

Matt Gillett with his family. Picture: AAP/Dan Peled

“From that game, things were a struggle from there on in, trying to lift weights, doing a contact sport and using the right shoulder and putting your body on the line.

“It got pretty difficult to do week in week out for the club.”

The 31-year-old admitted he knew something was wrong as he struggled through the pain of the injury for the rest of the 2019 season.

“In my mind, I thought something was up,” he said.

“I’ve had a few shoulder operations and a few injuries but not to the extent (to this one).

“When I saw the medical staff, they explained everything to me.

“There were a lot of big words in there but I was very shocked to find out the extent of it.”

The 200-game Broncos veteran sought medical advice from club doctors in the aftermath of their 2019 season, where he was told he should give the game up due to the severity of the shoulder injury.

Matt Gillett’s decorated career is over. Picture: AAP/Darren England

“We do our medicals straight after our season is done, so I got a scan shortly after (the season),” he said.

“I sat down with the medical staff the week after that.

“It was a no-brainer decision at the end of the day. I just had to make sure I was comfortable with it.

“It was the last thing I wanted to do was give the game away due to injury.”

Brisbane coach Anthony Seibold revealed how concerned the club’s medical staff had been if Gillett had continued to play on.

“One of the medical staff said to me ‘if it was my son, I couldn’t let him play on’ and that really hit a cord with me,” Seibold said.

“I was quite emotional about that.

“It was the right decision but we’ll miss him.”

MATT GILLETT

DOB: 12 August, 1988, Macksville NSW

Broncos debut: R1, 2010

Broncos games: 200, 59 tries

Queesland Origin games: 20, 2 tries

Tests: 12, 2 tries

GILLETT’S INJURIES OVER THE YEARS

2019: Right shoulder injury, lower back complaint, groin complaint, knee injury, fractured nose

2018: Neck fracture, shoulder reconstruction, right calf injury

2016: Left shoulder tendon

2012: Right shoulder surgery

2011: Knee injury