Warrington Wolves hooker Michael Monaghan has announced his retirement at the end of the current season.
The 34-year-old Australian has featured in three Challenge Cup-winning sides since joining the Wolves from Manly in 2008, making 183 appearances in total and scoring 33 tries.
He won the Lance Todd Trophy for his man-of-the-match display in the 2009 Challenge Cup final and has also twice been a losing Super League Grand Finalist.
Monaghan, who has shared the captaincy with Ben Westwood this season, said: “It’s been a privilege playing here for seven years, winning Challenge Cups and playing in Grand Finals.
“It’s all gone better than I could have hoped for or expected. I’m retiring from playing at the end of the season, but I am looking forward to moving on in the game, hopefully into a coaching role, whether that’s here or elsewhere.”
Monaghan arrived at Warrington as a half-back, but successfully moved into the pack as the club, having not won a trophy in 34 years at that point, entered a new era.
In 2011 he was joined at the Wolves by his younger brother Joel, 32, who has proved a prolific try-scorer for the club.
Coach Tony Smith hopes there is more glory to come before Monaghan finally bows out.
Smith said: “We will thank Michael for his efforts he’s put into the club at the appropriate time because we know he’s got – and we’ve got – some unfinished business in terms of the rest of the season to go.
“He’s certainly been a great asset to the club for a number of years – and in all the years I’ve been here – on the field but also in his knowledge of the game.
“He is going to be a huge attribute to whichever coaching staff he ends up working for.”
