NRL 2023: Cronulla Sharks star Wade Graham announces retirement after 16 seasons

The only player left from the Sharks’ historic 2016 premiership win, inspirational former skipper Wade Graham, will hang up the boots at the end of 2023 after a stellar 16-year career.

Cronulla legend Wade Graham has announced he will retire from the NRL and bring down the curtain on a stellar 16-year career.

An emotional Graham made the call at a private function in Sydney on Tuesday night among his closest friends, family and both past and present teammates.

The former Test, NSW State of Origin and highly-regarded Sharks co-captain held back tears as he confirmed that he will hang up the boots at the end of the 2023 season.

“The time has come for me to say this will be my last season in the NRL and for the Sharks,’’ Graham said.

The dinner had been organised to celebrate Graham joining an exclusive short-list of only Cronulla club legends Paul Gallen and Andrew Ettingshausen to have played 250 first grade games for the club, which the 32-year-old achieved in the side’s win over South Sydney last Saturday night.

Wade Graham has announced he will retire at the end of the 2023 season. Picture: Getty Images.

However, Graham said there was no better time, among his greatest supporters, to declare the 2023 season would be his last in the NRL from a career that began with his debut for Penrith in 2008 as a 17-year-old.

Inside the function held at the Sharks club at Kareela were Graham’s most influential figures throughout his storybook career including his wife Karianne, his mum and dad and sisters, as well as 2016 premiership-winning teammates Paul Gallen, Michael Ennis, Luke Lewis and former coach Shane Flanagan.

The entire current Sharks playing and coaching squad were also present, while Graham’s close mates including former Roosters captain Boyd Cordner and Sharks teammate Todd Carney were also in attendance.

Wade Graham is the last remaining player at the club from the historic 2016 grand final win. Picture: Brett Costello.

One of the most gifted ball-players with a hard-nosed defensive edge, Graham moved to the Sharks from Penrith in 2011 following a persuasive phone call from both Gallen and Flanagan.

The move from Blacktown to Cronulla proved the greatest decision of Graham’s career with his progression to the Test and NSW State of Origin arena and ultimately his role as a crucial member of the Sharks historic 2016 title victory.

In a tribute video ahead of his milestone match last Saturday, Ennis described Graham as one of the most complete footballers he’d ever played with.

“I’m not sure I’ve played with a more complete backrower,’’ Ennis said.

“Someone that could run lines when he had to, ball-play when he had to, had the skill and the vision to be able execute short-side plays, but more importantly the ruthlessness that he played with to win, was something I loved being a part of.’’

Graham (right) has also starred in the Origin arena for NSW, even filling in at halfback for Nathan Cleary in 2019. Picture: AAP.

Aside from his radar-like defence in the back row for the Sharks in the 2016 grand final, there was no greater example of Graham’s elite-level skill than the game two of the 2019 State of Origin series.

Needing to win the game to save the series from being handed to Queensland, Graham was parachuted from the bench and into the halfback role after NSW playmaker Nathan Cleary failed to emerge from the dressing room for the second-half with a badly damaged ankle.

Cool as you like, Graham stepped into the hottest seat on the field in front of 59,000 fans to pilot the Blues home to a 38-6 victory.

NSW would go onto win the series 2-1, with Graham instrumental in delivering out of position at his state’s time of need.

In what will now be the second-last home game of his career - with an emotional round 27 home clash with the Raiders to come - Graham will lead the Sharks out against the Titans at PointsBet Stadium on Friday night.