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Andrew Johns retires from rugby league
Tuesday, April 10, 2007 - 4:08 PM
Andrew Johns announced his shock retirement from rugby league on Tuesday after being told he risked a "catastrophic" spinal injury by playing on.
The former NSW and Australian captain - regarded as one of the greatest players of all time - said the risks associated with continuing his remarkable 15-year career were just too great.
Johns made his decision following a CAT scan on his injured neck and hours of consultation with Knights club doctor Neil Halpin and spinal specialist Professor John Yeo.
Dr Halpin said the scans revealed a previously undetected disc injury which, while free of painful symptoms, posed serious risk for the Newcastle captain.
"Talking to Neil and the professor I realised how lucky I am that I haven't had a serious neck injury or a serious accident and be in a wheelchair," Johns said.
"Because it only had to be one knock and it was a fairly simple knock that I got at training and I was in agony, so I would hate to think if a full blown hit in the field, what it could've done."
Dr Halpin said the injury was not related to the bulging disc in his neck which forced Johns to miss the last five matches of the 2003 season.
Johns initially hurt his neck in last Monday's 48-18 loss to Canberra, the game which will now go down as the last of his illustrious career.
He aggravated the injury at Knights training last Thursday following a collision with teammates Daniel Abraham and Adam Woolnough.
"It was obvious on Thursday night that he had done some serious damage to his neck - the extent of that was entirely unclear," Dr Halpin said.
"His immediate problem is a facet joint injury in the neck, which is something quite painful but in itself not serious.
"The scanning does confirm a facet joint - but it also shows a disc injury which is not causing any symptoms at all at the moment but is nonetheless quite serious and potentially a cause of a serious neck injury.
"The problem he has is that while his pain at the moment is not a great problem ... he's at serious risk of a serious spinal, or catastrophic, spinal injury if he plays on.
"On that basis we've advised him to retire from football forthwith."
Johns admitted he was shaken by his sudden retirement.
"I'm still in shock," said Johns.
"I was in shock when it happened, just totally numb.
"It was really tough telling my family.
"I made an emotional call to my brother Matthew and it was even tougher talking to the players this afternoon.
"I think the time's right."
Johns labelled his two premierships won with the Knights in 1997 and 2001 as the standout moments of his career, which began with his NRL debut against Gold Coast at Seagulls Stadium in 1993.
He played 23 State of Origin games for NSW and represented Australia in 21 Test matches during a 10-year representative career, including the 1995 World Cup and the 2001 Kangaroo tour.
Johns collected three Dally M awards and two Golden Boots as international player of the year.
Johns ends his career as the greatest point scorer in NRL history with 2176 points from 249 first grade games with the Knights.