Mannering announces he'll retire at end of season
- Author
- Timestamp
One of the Warriors' favourite sons, Simon Mannering, has announced he will retire at the end of 2018 as he closes in on becoming the club's first 300-game player.
Mannering, 31, will finish his NRL career as the club's most capped player, with 293 Telstra Premiership games to his name and a historic triple century looming if he plays every game up until the final-round clash with Canberra.
Regarded as one of the most durable men in the game, Mannering has been a constant for the New Zealand franchise for the last 14 seasons, appearing in a minimum of 17 games each year after his debut 2005 season.
Mannering had been weighing up whether to carry on into 2019, but will up stumps comfortable with the direction the club is headed in as the Warriors close in on their first finals appearance since 2011.
"It has taken a while to reach this point but I'm now comfortable with the decision I've finally made," Mannering said.
"It hasn't been easy that's for sure. There has been a lot to think about. I've really enjoyed this season and that was one of the factors that was playing on my mind.
"I'm really grateful to the Warriors for giving me the time I needed. It's a big call when you consider retirement, even more so having played my whole career for this great club.
"It's not over yet, though. There are still a lot of games to be played and I want to do all I can to help the team and the coaching staff in our bid to finish this season as well as we possibly can."
Earlier this year Mannering also called time on his New Zealand Test career after 45 appearances for the Kiwis.
Mannering's on-field efforts for the club have been immense, with the Warriors tallying career totals of more than 9300 tackles, in excess of 27,000 run metres and close to 370 hours of playing time.
Warriors CEO Cameron George declared Mannering's contribution off the paddock matches his stature on it.
"It's difficult to put into words just how much Simon has done for the Warriors on and off the field and what he means to us and to members and fans alike," he said.
"Above all he's a champion player and a champion person who epitomises what a Warrior is all about.
"It's a tough day for all of us knowing this will be Simon's last season, more so because of the loyalty he has shown by being one of that select group of players who have been with just one club their whole career."
