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Manly's Steve Menzies to retire from rugby league
By Dean Ritchie | June 19, 2008 12:00am
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Moving on ... Steve Menzies with wife Suyin and daughter Miller. Photograph: Brett Costello / The Daily Telegraph![]()
MANLY legend and rugby league's greatest tryscoring forward, Steve Menzies, will retire from the NRL after this season - and it could be as the only player in 100 years to play 350 first-grade games. After months of deliberation, Menzies, 34, will not return in 2009 after an extraordinary 16 seasons of first-grade football.
The Beaver now has just under four months of his wonderful NRL career remaining before he walks off Brookvale Oval for the final time.
Menzies may play a final season in England but could never play against the club where he has become a true champion.
Perhaps Menzies was pre-empted by a flyer promoting his tribute dinner at the Sofitel Wentworth on August 21. It was headed: "A legend retires".
No player has played 350 first-grade games since 1908 - the former Canterbury and Wests champion Terry Lamb coming closest on 349. If Menzies plays every remaining game this year and then four finals matches, he will play his 350th match on grand final day.
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Menzies would not fully confirm his impending retirement but it's understood Manly have little money left in their 2009 salary cap to offer him a substantial contract.
"My biggest fear is playing a season, or even half a season, too long," Menzies said yesterday.
"I don't want people to say he was a good player but what's he doing out there now. No one wants to play one season too many. I think I've played at a good standard my whole career and that's the level I expect of myself. It's getting more and more likely I won't be at Manly next year. I've been waiting to see what Manly want to do but there's not much money there."
Menzies may, however, still play one final season in the English Super League.
"It has always been a goal of mine to play overseas," he said. "The competition over there is getting better and better. It's something I'd love to do. I may still want to compete. It just may not be in the NRL."
Menzies has scored 170 tries, second only to Team of the Century winger Ken Irvine (212).
He has also played the most number of games for one club (334, including the Manly-run Northern Eagles).
Sea Eagles chief executive Grant Mayer said Menzies will officially announce his decision within the next fortnight.
"We've been told by his manager (Wayne Beavis) that 'Beaver' wants until June 30 to make a decision," Mayer said. "As a club and a rugby league legend, he should be given that time."
Menzies already has a career after football and is a director of Menzies Financial Group.
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegra...6799,23885604-5006066,00.html?from=public_rss
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Menzies likely to retire
19/06/2008 4:11:19 PM
Adam Lucius
Sportal
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Manly legend Steve Menzies is leaning towards retirement rather than having one more season in England despite strong interest abroad.
It's believed a number of UK Super League clubs, including Bradford, Wigan and Castleford, are interested in signing Menzies to a one-year deal but the 34-year-old is likely to finish up at the end of the current NRL season.
The veteran forward is reluctant to uproot his young family and spend time away from a growing list of business interests.
Sitting on 334 games after 16 years in the top grade, Menzies won't play in the NRL beyond 2008, leaving England as his only option should he wish to prolong his magnificent career.
"It's a personal decision and at this stage it's very much a week by week situation," Menzies' manager Wayne Beavis told Sportal on Thursday.
"It's hard to say what he will be doing. He's happy, he's healthy and he's enjoying his football and it's up to him to decide what he wants to do."
"We're not ruling anything in or out until he makes up his mind what he wants to do."
Menzies has spoken of his fears of pushing his career past its used-by-date, telling Sportal this week: "I'd rather pull up a year short, than go a half-a-season too long."
"The thing I'm afraid of is playing a season too long and have people say 'he used to be a good player, what's he doing?'."
"I'd like to make a decision sooner rather than later."
Menzies has promised to make that decision by June 30, the Sea Eagles pushing forward with a tribute dinner in August.
The dinner invites guests to celebrate the 'retirement of a legend', adding further weight to speculation Menzies will quit rather than play on in England.
"Steve is yet to inform us of his 2009 plans and we've always said we'll give him until the end of June to let us know," Manly CEO Grant Mayer said on Thursday.
"Nothing has changed in that regard."
Photograph Copyright : Getty Images
http://sportal.com.au/league-news-display/menzies-likely-to-retire-50774