NRL 2022: Aiden Tolman to retire at end of season

Cronulla’s workhorse Aiden Tolman will finish his rugby league career at the end of 2022 after 14 seasons in the National Rugby League.

David Riccio

@DaveRic1

less than 2 min read

August 26, 2022 - 9:27AM

News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 01: Aiden Tolman of the Sharks talks to the crowd after playing in his 300th NRL match after the round four NRL match between the Cronulla Sharks and the Newcastle Knights at PointsBet Stadium on April 01, 2022, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)

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Cronulla workhorse Aiden Tolman has announced his retirement after 14 seasons in the NRL.

The premiership-winning prop broke the news to teammates at training on Thursday before fronting a press conference on Friday morning.

Tolman will join fellow departing Cronulla forward Andrew Fifita in farewelling Sharks fans in the club’s final home game at PointsBet Stadium against Canterbury on Saturday.

One of the most respected figures in the game, Tolman has proven an influential figure and leader at the Sharks over the past two seasons.

Aiden Tolman joined the NRL’s ‘300 game’ club in round four of this season. Picture: Jason McCawley/Getty Images

In a game that is often derailed by grubby headlines of player misbehaviour, Tolman’s character has never been questioned in more than a decade.

Past and present teammates recognise the 33-year-old prop as one of the most professional footballers they have played with.

Fittingly, Tolman’s final game of the regular season will not only be a remarkable 315th first grade appearance, but against one of his former clubs, Canterbury.

Aiden Tolman played for Melbourne in the 2009 NRL grand final. Credit: NRL Images.

Tolman was pivotal in helping Canterbury to premiership deciders in 2012 and 2014.

Without doubt, the Kempsey junior’s career highlight came in 2009, when he won the grand final with Melbourne against Parramatta.

Tolman debuted for the Storm as an 18-year-old in round 6 of the 2008 season and he has been a favourite of coaches and teammates ever since.

“I haven’t been the most talented bloke to play the game but I would like to think I have put the effort in every time I have played. That is what I have built my career on, and doing the little things well,’’ Tolman told NRL.com ahead of his 300th game in March this year.