Here’s a running tally of every NRL player that is retiring in season 2024.
Everyone’s time in the sun must come to an end, and this year will mark the last for a number of experienced players, who have achieved the highest of highs in the game of rugby league.
Rumours may be circling around certain players planning to call it quits once the season over, but this is the definitive list.
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves was the first cab off the rank, announcing that 2024 would be his last in the NRL. More recently, another star middle forward Dale Finucane announced he’s been forced into medical retirement.
Here’s the full list.
NRL players retiring in 2024
This list is in order of games played.
Here’s the list of National Rugby League players that are hanging up the boots come October.
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Roosters, Manly)
Debut 2009 | 298 games* (6 Manly, 292 Roosters) | 16 tries
*Numbers heading into season 2024
Three premierships
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves – one of the greatest enforcers the game of rugby league has ever seen – has decided that 2024 will be his last season, before jumping to the Super League to join Hull next year.
Although that technically means he’s not retiring, it is almost certain that he will never play in Australia’s top grade beyond this season.
The 35-year-old has played 16 years in the National Rugby League, winning three premierships with the Sydney Roosters (2013, 2018, 2019) and has made over 30 appearances for New Zealand in international football.
He’s one of the most feared and respected forwards in the game; JWH’s pending retirement will be a reference point right the way through the Roosters’ campaign.
Dale Finucane (Sharks, Storm, Bulldogs)
Debut 2012 (Bulldogs) | 251 games* (66 Bulldogs, 152 Storm, 33 Sharks) | 17 tries
*Accurate at time of retirement
Two Premierships
Dale Finucane is one of the most accomplished locks of the last decade, playing at the highest level and tasting the ultimate success with the Melbourne Storm on two occasions.
Finucane has been medically retired midway through the 2024 season, on advice relating to his history of concussions.
The middle forward represented the Blues at Origin level five times between 2019-2021, before joining Cronulla in 2022 as a valued veteran presence for a Sharks team returning to premiership contention.
Luke Keary (Rabbitohs, Roosters)
Debut 2013 (Rabbitohs) I 212 games* (63 Rabbitohs, 149 Roosters) I 45 tries
*Accurate at time of retirement
Three words best describe Luke Keary: Pint-sized and tough. The diminutive five-eighth dominated NRL short sides for the best part of a decade, mixing his rapid acceleration with an uncanny ball-playing instinct to create space for himself or his outside men.
Three Premierships and a Clive Churchill Medal paint the picture of an extremely accomplished career, one brought to a premature end at just 32.
As tough and skilful as any half in modern rugby league history, Keary’s unfortunate to have only represented New South Wales once at State of Origin level, such is his talent.
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