Joel Fitzgerald and Tommy Hearn retire after Kawana Dolphins win grand final

‘Greatest swan song ever’: Kawana Dolphins are set to farewell Sunshine Coast Rugby League premiership winners Joel Fitzgerald and Tommy Hearn to retirement.

Kawana Dolphins’ stalwarts Joel Fitzgerald and Tommy Hearn say they’ll hang up the boots and finish decorated careers as Sunshine Coast Rugby League A-grade premiers.

The Dolphins claimed its first premiership since 2015 with a hard-fought 22-10 win over a stubborn Maroochydore Swans at Sunshine Coast Stadium on Saturday night.

Fitzgerald had played more than 150 games for Kawana while Hearn was the A-grade club captain.

Both players had tried to retire in the past but had been lured back.

150-game Kawana Dolphin Joel Fitzgerald accepts his premiership medal. Picture: Matty Holdsworth

Fitzgerald, 35, was there alongside Adam Sutton, James Sumpton, Philip Taylor, Sam Wright, and Travis and Devlin Long for the club’s last title year.

He said family time was calling.

“She’s done. I am done. The body has been struggling this year so it’s time. Time to spend time with my kids and missus,” Fitzgerald said at full-time.

“This is an unbelievable way to finish. The body isn’t wanting to do it and it’s a redemption from 2016 when I first tried to retire.”

Hearn, in his 27th season of footy, also called time on his playing days.

“This is it. The greatest swan song ever,” Hearn said.

“I tried to hang them up in 2019 but we got pipped in the semis.

“But I’m done now, no ressies. It’s time. There’s no better way to finish.”

Club coach Andrew Hinson hinted more could follow.

“It was a bit of an all-in from us, that could be Joel’s last game, maybe some more too,” he said.

The boys promised to party until Monday or longer.

Originally published as Joel Fitzgerald and Tommy Hearn retire after Kawana Dolphins win grand final