Brisbane Broncos veteran Matt Gillett calls time on NRL career
An emotional Matt Gillett has announced his retirement from the NRL today as coach Anthony Seibold revealed just how bad the veteran’s injuries became.
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BRONCOS warhorse Matt Gillett has broken down in tears announcing his immediate retirement from the NRL.
Gillett confirmed he would walk away from the game at a press conference at Brisbane’s Red Hill headquarters this morning.
As revealed by The Courier-Mail on Tuesday, Gillett has struggled to overcome a raft of injuries and will pull the pin on his career with three years left on his contract.
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The Broncos are expected to apply to the NRL for injury-forced retirement salary cap concessions, allowing the club to bolster its roster following a poor finish to the 2019 season.
Gillett, 31, said he physically could not play the game any longer due to a serious shoulder injury.
“I injured my shoulder late in the season and it was playing on my mind,” Gillett said fighting back tears.
“When the season was finished I got scans and the results showed there was a large amount of damage in my right shoulder.
“After that I sought out a number of medical opinions from a range of doctors who all said the same thing – the shoulder is beyond repair for me to return to rugby league.
“This has been a huge shock to me and my family. We have taken the time over the past month to consider what we should do.
“I have decided to take the medical advice from experts and call time on my career.
“It was a really hard decision but I have to do what’s best for myself, my health and my family.
“I have plenty to be thankful for. I’ve been part of a great club for my whole career. I played for my state, country and with some legends of the game.
“While today is really hard, I know I can look back and be thankful.”
Gillett played 200 NRL games for the Broncos since debuting in 2010, his last appearance unfortunately being Brisbane’s humiliating 58-0 finals loss to Parramatta.
He made 20 State of Origin appearances for Queensland and was a 12-game Kangaroos Test representative.
At his peak, Gillett was one of the game’s most feared second-rowers, producing brutal defence and excellent line-running.
● ROUND ONE: How the Broncos line-up without Gillett
However he struggled to return to his best after suffering a broken neck in Round 1 of the 2018 season.
Gillett managed 17 NRL games in his final season this year, but was limited by knee, back and shoulder complaints, the latter which has lead to him pulling the pin.
“I had a scan pretty shortly after the (season ended) and sat down with the staff a week later,” Gillett said.
“It was a no-brainer at the end of the day. I had to make sure I was comfortable with it.
“The last thing I wanted to do was give the game away due to injuries. I would have loved to have kept playing and gone out on a better note, but the game’s given me so many great memories.
“It’s not the way I wanted to go out (Parramatta loss), but to run out with the kids in my 200th game was special.
“I’m glad to get this out of the way then move on to the next chapter.”
Gillett said he would remain at the Broncos in an ambassador role as he contemplated his next move.
“I’m going to be part of this club,” he said.
“They’ve done so many good things for me. My next journey is just starting.
“I’ll be involved as an ambassador for the moment and over the next 12 months I’ll find something I take interest in and head that way.
“I want to experience a lot of different things in the club.”
Originally published as Brisbane Broncos veteran Matt Gillett calls time on NRL career