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EXCLUSIVE: Nigel Plum retires from representative football, Ben Pomeroy still available

26th November, 2014
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The Panthers and the Eelsand the battle of the west (AAP Image/Action Photographics, Robb Cox)
Roar Guru
26th November, 2014
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In a teary press conference, Penrith’s hard-hitting second-rower Nigel Plum has announced his retirement from all forms of representative football, effective immediately.

Plum said the announcement, timed to coincide with the aftermath of the Four Nations final, was “one of the more difficult decisions I made this week. The time was right to get my Plums out, so to speak”.

Plum, while yet to be selected for representative football at any level across his career, has indicated that “I felt I needed to hang up the [representative] boots”.

“There probably comes a time when your body makes your decision for you. For me, I guess due to my skill levels, my body made that decision around the time of my birth,” he said.

“They say that when the time comes, you just know. After 10 years of continual non-selection, I guess I just knew.”

Plum said that after 10 years of club football, it was time to focus on club football. His side, the Penrith Panthers, had one of their best years in recent memory – falling to the Bulldogs in the preliminary final in 2014.

But Plum assured worried fans that he would be around next year, “Don’t worry Penrith, go down the park and there will be plenty of Plum on your plate at the Penny Panthers come 2015. Promise.”

Plum, also known as the most injured man in rugby league, told the Sydney Morning Herald earlier in the year that he is held together by around three kilometres of strapping tape.

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Panthers coach Ivan Cleary said that he was surprised by the announcement.

“I didn’t think he was, ability-wise, eligible for representative football – but it is good to see he will be able to focus on the Panthers even more than before,” Cleary said.

“It sure will be great to have him around at Origin time, like he has been for the past 10 or so years of his career.”

In other rugby league retirement news, former Cronulla centre and current Catalans Dragon Ben Pomeroy has silenced the whispers by indicating he intends to remain eligible for representative selection, but declined to confirm which country he was deciding to remain eligible for.

“Mate, I live in France now, so I guess I could play for them if I don’t get the call from Lozza (Laurie Daley) sometime soon. But let’s face it, if it’s got a flag and a jersey, or at least a shirt of a consistent colour, I’ll give it a crack”.

NRL CEO Dave Smith said the rugby league community was saddened by Plum’s decision, but was buoyed by the fact Pomeroy had indicated he would remain eligible.

“Our great game had lost one of its true heroes. It will certainly be sad not to see The Pluminator running around come Origin time, but I know kids will continue to ‘get their Plums out’ on footy fields around the country this weekend.”

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“I like to think there is a bit of Nigel Plum in all of us. While it’s a real bummer, Blake Pomeroy’s continued eligibility probably means jersey sales won’t be affected too much.”

The NRL has also indicated it will commemorate Plum’s retirement next season, with Round 15 to be renamed the ‘Get Your Plums Out’ weekend in his honour.

Requests for comment from Kangaroos coach Tim Sheens were not returned by time of publication.

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