Justin Hodges, Brent Kite, Nigel Plum: The NRL retirees for 2015

WITH a number of NRL careers drawing to a close, we’ve paid tribute to the 12 players who will hang up the boots after season 2015.

WITH the season coming to a close, the careers of several NRL players are approaching their culmination and more than one player will bid rugby league farewell after Round 26 with a few tears and hopefully a novelty conversion or two.

Twelve players have announced that this will be their last year in the big leagues and with a number of careers coming to an end this weekend, we’ve put together a tribute to the retiring class of 2015.

Justin Hodges

Hodges debuted for the Broncos at just 17 years of age in 2000 and apart from a mixed three year stint with Roosters from 2002-04 he’s stayed at Red Hill for his entire career. Perhaps the finest centre of the modern era, Hodges has long been an Origin and Test regular, shaking off a horrific opening game to became a stalwart for Queensland. Injuries have restricted his career at times, but the Cairns junior will retire while still at the top of his game and with dreams of adding a second premiership to his resume after winning a title with the Broncos in 2006. Currently has 247 first grade appearances to his credit and 99 tries.

David Stagg

A footballers footballer, Stagg was an unsung hero and tireless workhorse for the Broncos and Bulldogs since debuting in 2003. A backrower by trade, Stagg deputised in the centres, halves and at hooker when called upon and was a consummate team man through and through. Four years at Canterbury were book ended by two stints with Brisbane and Stagg was part of the Broncos premiership winning team of 2006. With one Origin appearance to his credit and 205 NRL matches, Stagg announced his retirement midway through the season. He’s set to make his second NRL appearances of the season against Melbourne on Thursday night.

Ben Ridge

A hulking prop or backrower who was highly rated when coming through the Titans system, Ridge has battled injury for much of his first grade career but still managed to played 58 first grade matches since his debut in 2010. Ridge has played four NRL matches this season and will move back to his hometown of Roma.

KENT: Resting players risks integrity

FORM GUIDE: The stats Hasler doesn’t want you to see

Clint Newton will retire after the Knights match against Penrith.

Clint Newton

A tradesman like backrower who debuted for the Knights in 2001, Newton will play his 173rd and final first grade match this weekend against the Panthers. A stalwart for the Knights in the early part of his career, Newton was jettisoned during the Brian Smith led purge midway through 2007 but landed on his feet when he joined the Storm and scoring a try in their 34-8 grand final win over Manly. A successful four-year stint at Hull KR followed before Newton returned to the NRL with Penrith, where he spent two seasons before returning to the Knights. Born in South Carolina, Newtown has played for the USA national side and is chairman of the Rugby League Players Association.

David Fa’alogo

Originally a wide running backrower with South Sydney, Fa’alogo was one of the few bright spots in the Rabbitohs first few seasons following their return to the NRL in 2002. After a breakout season in 2006, which saw him make his Test debut for New Zealand, Fa’alogo established himself as one of the more underrated players in the game and was renowned for his toughness and aggression. Fa’alogo started in the second row for New Zealand in the 2008 World Cup final but left South Sydney in controversial circumstances the following year after knocking out coach Jason Taylor at the Rabbitohs Mad Monday celebrations. A three-year stint with Huddersfield followed before a career swan song with Newcastle, where Fa’alogo reinvented himself as a bruising front rower. Fa’alogo also captained Samoa in last year’s Four Nations and has played 198 first grade matches.

David Fa’alogo won the World Cup with New Zealand in 2008.

Glenn Hall

A career grinder, Hall has cranked out 192 first grade matches at five clubs since making his first grade debut for the Bulldogs in 2002. The Panania junior spent two years in the top grade with the Bulldogs, two with the Rabbitohs and one with the Roosters before finding a home at Manly where he started in the backrow in the 2008 grand final win over Melbourne. Hall spent a season with Bradford in 2010 before returning to Australia in 2011 with North Queensland, where he’s played 98 first grade games. The 34-year old has spent the majority of 2015 with the Townsville Blackhawks and will likely continue to play for the Queensland Cup powerhouse next season.

Beau Champion

Blessed with a name straight out a cheesy sports movie, Champion was a schoolboy superstar and the Rabbitohs had high hopes for the La Perouse junior when he debuted in 2005. A halfback or fullback coming through the ranks, Champion played his best football in the centres and was on the cusp of Origin selection after a stellar season in 2010 that saw him score 14 tries in 19 matches. However, Champion was jettisoned by the Rabbitohs in order to make room for Greg Inglis but returned to the club in 2013 after unsuccessful one-year stints with Melbourne and the Gold Coast. He failed to scale the heights of his first term in Redfern, playing just 10 matches in 2014-14 before signing with Parramatta. In Round 2 this year he suffered a knee injury that ruled him out for the season and announced his retirement several weeks later after 107 first grade games.

Nigel Plum

Held together by tape, headgear and will power, Nigel Plum forged a reputation as one of the most feared tacklers in the game in his 150 game, 10-year career. Renowned for his classic low tackling style and thunderous hits, Plum was an honest toiler for the Roosters, Raiders and Panthers and was embraced as a cult hero wherever he went. He called time on his career after the Round 23 win over the Warriors, citing concerns over the numerous concussions he’d sustained over the years.

STAYING PUT: Maguire hoses down Knights rumours

Nigel Plum was renowned for his big hits.

David Simmons

Consistently underrated, Simmons made his debut for the Sharks in 2003 and established himself as a regular try scorer in his seven years in the Shire, running in 54 tries in 112 matches. One of the rare players who improves with age, Simmons rebounded after a few injury plagued seasons after joining Penrith and become one of the more potent wingers in the competition. He was joint leading try scorer in 2013 with 19 and scored a career best four in one match earlier this season against the Tigers. Simmons will call it a day after the Panthers match against the Knights after 201 first grade matches, scoring 103 tries.

Brent Kite

Despite a broken leg and a shoulder problem forcing Brent Kite to call time on his career the burly front rower has shown himself to be remarkably durable, with 2015 marking just the second time in his career he’s played less than 20 matches. Kite burst onto the scene with the Dragons in 2002 and was an immediate hit, making his Origin debut in 2004 before transferring to Manly. Kite blossomed into one of the most consistent props in the game with the Sea Eagles, making his Australian debut in 2006 and winning premierships in 2008 and 2011, including snagging the Clive Churchill medal in the former. The Queanbeyan junior left the Sea Eagles at the end of 2013 to take up a two-year deal with Penrith. All told, Kite has played 313 first grade games, the 15th most of all time.

Ben Lowe

A rangy utility forward for the Rabbitohs, the tough tackling Ben Lowe has filled in across the Souths forward pack since making his debut in 2008. In recent years Lowe has been used almost exclusively off the bench and has struggled to overcome a number of injuries but will retire with 116 matches to his credit.

Dan Hunt

The Dapto junior made his NRL debut for the Dragons in 2007 and played his entire career for his local club. A solid front rower who seemed set for higher honours in the early days of his career, Hunt has been dogged by injuries in the last few seasons. He missed the Dragons premiership win in 2010 after snapping his Achilles midway through the year and managed just 25 matches in 2013 and 2014 combined. Following his latest setback, Hunt hung up the boots midway through the year after 150 first grade games for the Red V.