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Thirteen NRL stalwarts, who have played over 3000 Telstra Premiership matches between them, will start to hang up their boots over the next month before their official send-off at the NRL Grand Final on October 3.

300-plus games veterans Steve Price (313), Luke Priddis (314) and Brett Kimmorley (307) spearhead the star-studded line-up of players who are retiring or finishing their careers in the UK and have qualified for the NRL’s special Grand Final Day tribute. They have played a combined total of 3045 NRL games.

While Price unfortunately played his last game in June because of injury and the Broncos’ PJ Marsh (158) did not play at all this year being ruled out in the pre-season with a neck injury, the remainder will get to farewell their fans over the next five weeks during the final Premiership round this weekend and/or the four weeks of the finals series – depending where their team finishes.

Of the clubs out of the finals race already, the following players will lace up their boots for the last time this weekend: Sharks captain Trent Barrett (234 games) and team-mate Luke Covell (152); Eels captain Nathan Cayless (258); Ty Williams (Cowboys, 150); Kimmorley (Bulldogs, 307); and Steve Simpson (Knights, 216). UK-bound Luke Patten (Bulldogs, 281) and Brett Finch (Storm, 257) will also play in the NRL for the last time this weekend.

The remaining players, whose teams are still in the race for the top eight or have already qualified for the finals series are: Priddis; Josh Perry (Sea Eagles, 209 – UK bound); and Mat Rogers (Titans, 196).

They will all receive an on-field tribute and a dedicated video package at Grand Final Day. Stats for Retiring/ “Departing” Players (as at August 31, 2010)

Trent Barrett
Teams Illawarra 1996-98, St George Illawarra 1999-2006, Cronulla 2009-10
Games 234
Tries 82
Points 338
Runs (1998 -) 1552
Metres (1998-) 10,832
Tackles (1998 -) 3087
Tackle Breaks (2003-) 152
Offloads (1998-) 203
Try Assists 112

Read the thank-you messages to two great Sharks (Trent Barrett and Luke Covell


Nathan Cayless
Teams Parramatta
Games 258
Tries 27
Points 109
Runs (1998 -) 3732
Metres (1998-) 27,392
Tackles (1998 -) 6358
Tackle Breaks (2003-) 165
Offloads (1998-) 418
Try Assists 10

Read about the Eels' plans to farewell Cayless by inviting the fans on the field this Saturday

Luke Covell
Teams Wests Tigers 2003-04, Cronulla 2005-10
Games 152
Tries 62
Points 1086
Runs (1998 -) 1280
Metres (1998-) 10,630
Tackles (1998 -) 732
Tackle Breaks (2003-) 445
Offloads (1998-) 64
Try Assists 11

Read the thank-you messages to two great Sharks (Trent Barrett and Luke Covell

Brett Finch
Teams Canberra 1999-02, Roosters 2003-06, Parramatta 2007-09, Melbourne 2009-10
Games 257
Tries 66
Points 278
Runs (1998 -) 1495
Metres (1998-) 11,330
Tackles (1998 -) 4661
Tackle Breaks (2003-) 298
Offloads (1998-) 370
Try Assists 163

Read Finch's views on “some of the best” he has played with in his NRL career

And you can also read about his return from injury for final fling

Brett Kimmorley
Teams Newcastle 1995-96, Hunter 1997, Melbourne 1998-00, Northern Eagles 2001, Cronulla 2002-08, Canterbury 2009-10
Games 307
Tries 82
Points 729
Runs (1998 -) 1756
Metres (1998-) 13,314
Tackles (1998 -) 5121
Tackle Breaks (2003-) 254
Offloads (1998-) 299
Try Assists 208

Read the player and staff tributes to “Noddy”

PJ Marsh
Teams Parramatta 2000-01,2005-07, Warriors 2002-03, Brisbane 2008-09
Games 158
Tries 22
Points 114
Runs (1998 -) 923
Metres (1998-) 7624
Tackles (1998 -) 2985
Tackle Breaks (2003-) 95
Offloads (1998-) 80
Try Assists 24

Luke Patten
Teams Illawarra 1998, St.George Illawarra 1999-00, Canterbury 2001-10
Games 281
Tries 100
Points 400 Runs (1998 -) 4066 Metres (1998-) 33,099 Tackles (1998 -) 1177 Tackle Breaks (2003-) 691
Offloads (1998-) 247
Try Assists 53

Read here as past and present players and fans salute the “General
See the video salute to the General (Part 1)
Video salute to the General (Part 2)

Josh Perry
Teams Newcastle 2000-07, Manly 2008-10
Games 209
Tries 20
Points 80
Runs (1998 -) 2271
Metres (1998-) 19,872
Tackles (1998 -) 4334
Tackle Breaks (2003-) 244
Offloads (1998-) 137
Try Assists 1

Steve Price
Teams Canterbury 1994-2004, Warriors 2005-2009
Games 313
Tries 35
Points 140
Runs (1998 -) 4005
Metres (1998-) 31,600
Tackles (1998 -) 5913
Tackle Breaks (2003-) 322
Offloads (1998-) 288
Try Assists 22

Luke Priddis

Teams Canberra 1997-98, Brisbane 1999-01, Penrith 2002-08, St George Illawarra 2009-10
Games 314
Tries 63
Points 252
Runs (1998 -) 2084
Metres (1998-) 15,556
Tackles (1998 -) 8195
Tackle Breaks (2003-) 190
Offloads (1998-) 250
Try Assists 43

Priddis talks about his retirement:

Mat Rogers
Teams Cronulla 1995-2001, Gold Coast 2007-10
Games 196
Tries 106
Points 1355
Runs (1998 -) 1363
Metres (1998-) 10,443
Tackles (1998 -) 1293
Tackle Breaks (2003-) 243
Offloads (1998-) 164
Try Assists 29

Read about the Titans' farewell plans for “Rat”

Steve Simpson
Teams Newcastle 1999-2010
Games 216
Tries 32
Points 128
Runs (1998 -) 2089
Metres (1998-) 16,763
Tackles (1998 -) 5738
Tackle Breaks (2003-) 178
Offloads (1998-) 131
Try Assists 13

Ty Williams
Teams North Queensland 2002-10
Games 150
Tries 84
Points 336
Runs (1998 -) 1594
Metres (1998-) 13,779
Tackles (1998 -) 885
Tackle Breaks (2003-) 238
Offloads (1998-) 102
Try Assists 13

Read about the Cowboy's celebrations for Williams and others
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