'It's helped shape me': Brilliant Bremner calls time on career

Australian Jillaroos star and two-time World Cup winner Sam Bremner has announced her retirement from rugby league after more than a decade in the game. 

The 31-year-old posted to Instagram on Friday evening to deliver the news, declaring she was proud of her achievements which included being part of the Jillaroos' success at the recent World Cup in November.

Bremner made an incredible comeback to the field in 2022 less than a year after the birth of her second child, daughter Lakey, while she has also been forced to overcome several injury setbacks throughout her career.

A pioneer of the game in her own right, Bremner leaves the NRLW with nine appearances to her name, along with representing NSW and Australia at the highest level.

"This game has had a huge influence on who I am and what I value in life, it has helped shaped who I am, and what I stand for, there has been an entire community that has been on this roller coaster with me, from a young teenager to a 31-year-old mum," Bremner wrote.

"I hope to still be around the traps, with the passion to continue to grow this game still burning inside me, but as a player it's time to hang up the boots."

Arguably one of the best outside backs Australia has ever produced, Bremner made her international debut for the Jillaroos at the 2013 World Cup before injury ruled her out of the 2017 campaign. 

She was named co-captain of St George Illawarra's inaugural NRLW team in 2018 and made her official State of Origin debut for the Sky Blues in the same year but battled further injuries up until the birth of her first child, son Reef, a year later.

She returned to the game in 2020, guiding the Dragons to an inaugural NRL Nines tournament win in Perth before falling pregnant a second time.

Bremner has been open about her journey with having children while juggling her career, telling NRL.com in April last year of unfinished business in the game that kept her motivated.

"Physically I've come back better than when I had Reef because he was a C-section birth and Lakey was natural," Bremner explained at the time.

"It's been better the second time around, and also my mindset is a lot different."

Her return to the NRLW in August via the Roosters last year enabled her to finish up on her own terms, which included being named 18th player for NSW, being crowned Dally M fullback of the year and a recall to the Jillaroos line-up.

Bremner also finishes her career as the joint leading try-scorer in Jillaroos history alongside Isabelle Kelly with 14 after crossing for four tries during the tournament.