Premiership-winning five-eighth Gareth Widdop has retired from professional rugby league.
The 34-year-old signs off with 195 NRL appearances to his name across stints with Melbourne and St George Illawarra between 2010 and 2019.
A 28-time English international, Widdop returned home in 2020 to finish his career in the Super League at Warrington, and then Castleford.
“All feels a little surreal writing this however all good things come to an end, after much thought and deliberation my time playing Rugby League professionally is up,” Widdop wrote on Instagram on Thursday (AEDT).
“I am looking forward and hoping to embrace this next chapter.
“For now taking some time out and see where this life takes me!”
Widdop became a fixture at Melbourne in the aftermath of the salary cap breaches that forced a roster upheaval.
In an era when the club boasted such superstar players as Billy Slater, Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk, the Englishman held his own.
Widdop started in the Storm’s 2012 premiership victory, a 14-4 grinding defeat of Canterbury that was the club’s first title since being stripped of the 2007 and 2009 trophies.
Born in Halifax, Widdop can lay claim to being one of few English backs to truly make a mark on Australian rugby league during the NRL era.
He is the only English playmaker to have won either Dally M halfback or five-eighth of the year in the NRL era, picking up the five-eighth award in 2017.
Widdop joined St George Illawarra for the 2014 season, became captain in 2016 and was five-eighth the last time the embattled club played finals in 2018.
Widdop played his last professional game for the Castleford Tigers in round 25 of the most recent Super League season.
John Shaw
Roar Rookie
Timely comment BG. What should they do? Should they throw the kitchen sink at Tom Deardon to ensure he signs ($6m over 5 years) and $1.6m a year for Joey Manu until his career ends? Surely they have the cap room. If not, let Hunt go. Deardon, Manu, Lomax, Ravalawa, and Sloan is the basis of a great backline. Image how many try assists Manu would put on for Sloan. The backline would be unstoppable like the Dragons backline of 2010. We still need forwards, but Deardon and Manu would be a great start. There is no option but to outbid everyone and throw the kitchen sink at them. If not, where to from here?
Redcap
Roar Guru
Well played, Gareth - a pleasure to watch you play for Saints.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
Always a quality player… not flashy but solid as a rock
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
I'll bet Flanagan would give just about anything to have a 34 year Widdop playing for the Dragons next year, given the halves issues he's facing. Hope he enjoys a long and happy retirement.
mushi
Roar Guru
Injury free enough to show how good he was, but sadly not enough to make that Dragons team into a consistent contender.