Webcke retires from rep scene
Monday April 04, 2005
Broncos hard man Shane Webcke today announced that he will be stepping down from representative rugby league, effective immediately.
The veteran of 215* matches for the Broncos, 18 Tests for Australia and 21 State of Origin appearances for Queensland, Webcke has finally surrendered to a chronic knee injury. The man rated the No.1 prop in the game for the past five seasons, has made what he describes as the inevitable decision.
I know this sounds like a contradiction, but I am not retiring perse I have been forced in to making this decision, said a poignant Webcke.
I have a degenerating knee problem that has required surgery twice in the past six months. At the moment it is very manageable, but with the additional trauma placed on it by the heavy work load of a rep reason, I know something will give.
Quite simply, if I did not have this injury problem, I would not be making this announcement today.
Webcke said he suffered his first knee injury back in 1996 a dislocated knee cap and the injury had become progressively worse. Last season he underwent arthroscopic surgery on the knee in a Brisbane hospital on the Sunday following the semi-final against Melbourne, but courageously played six days later in the preliminary final against the Cowboys.
He compared his knee to the wearing tyre on a car, saying there were only a certain number of kilometres remaining.
While I am naturally disappointed that I will never pull on the Queensland or Australian jersey again, I have an obligation to the Broncos to fulfil the remainder of my contract (2005, 2006) with this club, he said.
I want to honour that commitment and I feel there is enough in the knee to complete the rest of those kilometres.
Broncos managing director Bruno Cullen said he was not surprised by the decision made by Webcke, but realised many rugby league fans would be both shocked and disappointed.
I can say with all honesty that I have never met a more competitive athlete than Shane Webcke and I know that if he could manage both club and rep football, he would, Cullen said.
Shane and I have discussed this issue at some length in the past year or so, and I was aware this decision was imminent. And while I realise there are plenty of good players who will be vying to replace Shane, rep footy just wont be the same without the big bloke out there.
In fact, it is hard to image State of Origin without Shane taking the ball from the kick-off and being smashed by five or six Blues forwards, and still doing the same thing in the 80th minute with exactly the same dedication.
Webcke has been a permanent fixture in both Queensland Australian teams for the past seven seasons. Since he was elevated to both Test and Origin status in 1998, Webcke has missed selection in these rep teams only because of injury. In 2001 he withdrew from the Kangaroo Tour for personal reasons.
Shane Webckes record:
NRL - 1995-2004 (including 1997 Super League matches): 206
Super League World Club Championship - 1997: 8
World Club Challenge - 2001 (V St Helens): 1
ARL Tests -1998-2004: 19
Super League Tests 1997: 1
State of Origin 1998-2004 (Queensland): 21
Super League Tri-Series 1997 (Queensland): 3
shit that's no good!
Monday April 04, 2005
Broncos hard man Shane Webcke today announced that he will be stepping down from representative rugby league, effective immediately.
The veteran of 215* matches for the Broncos, 18 Tests for Australia and 21 State of Origin appearances for Queensland, Webcke has finally surrendered to a chronic knee injury. The man rated the No.1 prop in the game for the past five seasons, has made what he describes as the inevitable decision.
I know this sounds like a contradiction, but I am not retiring perse I have been forced in to making this decision, said a poignant Webcke.
I have a degenerating knee problem that has required surgery twice in the past six months. At the moment it is very manageable, but with the additional trauma placed on it by the heavy work load of a rep reason, I know something will give.
Quite simply, if I did not have this injury problem, I would not be making this announcement today.
Webcke said he suffered his first knee injury back in 1996 a dislocated knee cap and the injury had become progressively worse. Last season he underwent arthroscopic surgery on the knee in a Brisbane hospital on the Sunday following the semi-final against Melbourne, but courageously played six days later in the preliminary final against the Cowboys.
He compared his knee to the wearing tyre on a car, saying there were only a certain number of kilometres remaining.
While I am naturally disappointed that I will never pull on the Queensland or Australian jersey again, I have an obligation to the Broncos to fulfil the remainder of my contract (2005, 2006) with this club, he said.
I want to honour that commitment and I feel there is enough in the knee to complete the rest of those kilometres.
Broncos managing director Bruno Cullen said he was not surprised by the decision made by Webcke, but realised many rugby league fans would be both shocked and disappointed.
I can say with all honesty that I have never met a more competitive athlete than Shane Webcke and I know that if he could manage both club and rep football, he would, Cullen said.
Shane and I have discussed this issue at some length in the past year or so, and I was aware this decision was imminent. And while I realise there are plenty of good players who will be vying to replace Shane, rep footy just wont be the same without the big bloke out there.
In fact, it is hard to image State of Origin without Shane taking the ball from the kick-off and being smashed by five or six Blues forwards, and still doing the same thing in the 80th minute with exactly the same dedication.
Webcke has been a permanent fixture in both Queensland Australian teams for the past seven seasons. Since he was elevated to both Test and Origin status in 1998, Webcke has missed selection in these rep teams only because of injury. In 2001 he withdrew from the Kangaroo Tour for personal reasons.
Shane Webckes record:
NRL - 1995-2004 (including 1997 Super League matches): 206
Super League World Club Championship - 1997: 8
World Club Challenge - 2001 (V St Helens): 1
ARL Tests -1998-2004: 19
Super League Tests 1997: 1
State of Origin 1998-2004 (Queensland): 21
Super League Tri-Series 1997 (Queensland): 3
shit that's no good!
