NRL: Fox Sports went behind the scenes to see the mountain of work that goes in to preparing for the NRL Grand Final.
While most of the attention on Sunday afternoon is on crowning the next NRL premier, before the Storm and Broncos players take to the field the crowd at Accor Stadium will farewell a host of big names.
Watch every game of the NRL Telstra Premiership Finals Series before the Grand Final, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo?From premiership winners to even a veteran who was honoured at this week’s Dally M medal ceremony, here is the list of retirees to hang up the boots at the end of 2025.WHAT'S GAMBLING REALLY COSTING YOU? Set a deposit limit. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.Chad Townsend scored 40 tries in 268 NRL games for the Sharks, Warriors, Cowboys and Roosters in a career spanning 2011 to 2025, including a premiership with the Sharks in 2016. Townsend joined the Roosters in 2025 as a back-up half option and worked with the Roosters’ young stars in Hugo Savala, Sam Walker and Sandon Smith, playing six games in his final season. Townsend, who played at halfback in the Sharks’ 2016 title win, has his sights set well and truly on a media career. “Obviously I have made it pretty clear that I love TV and radio and I want to pursue that as hard as I can,” But the 34-year-old doesn’t want to limit himself to just one career path. Townsend is open to trying his hand in the coaching ranks.The biggest broncos fan has been found | 01:53 “That mentor role. Helping them prepare for the NRL. These guys who are in our squad just grow and take on information.Townsend already boasts a very strong presence on YouTube, with over 47,000 subscribers, and said he also wants to “really dial into” the content creation side of the game.Kieran Foran scored 60 tries in 318 games for the Sea Eagles, Eels, Warriors, Bulldogs and Titans from 2009 to 2025, including a premiership win with Manly in 2011.Foran is set to take a similar path to Townsend, with media and coaching ambitions. “I’ve been able to get a really good taste and some experience in the media and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed that,”“I absolutely love the game so that’s been really cool to get some experience in that space. “I’ve got ambitions to coach, for sure. I want to certainly help shape and mould the next generation of young guys coming through and do whatever I can to pass on my footy knowledge and experiences onto them to help them in their next phase.”The retiring Titans half and 2011 Manly premiership winner also feels he can provide assistance in the mental health space as well, having this week been named the latest recipient of the Ken Stephen Medal for his work in the community.“I’ve been really open over the course of the last couple of years on touching on my own life’s challenges and battles that I’ve faced personally. “And just the work that I can do in that space to try and help young guys in particular not feel alone and not feel vulnerable in that space and feel OK. “I think between those three areas is somewhere that I’ll look to really focus on once I hang the boots up.”Shaun Lane scored 36 tries in 186 NRL games for the Bulldogs, Warriors, Sea Eagles and Eels, including making a Grand Final with Parramatta in 2022.Lane has taken on a role with Parramatta’s Elite Pathways and NRLW programs, with the focus on mental skills and athlete wellness. The 30-year-old has a Bachelor of Health Sciences, a Graduate Diploma in Psychology, and is currently in the middle of a Master’s in Positive Psychology. “I’m now looking forward to continuing my career at Parramatta in a different capacity, helping our young athletes thrive on and off the field,”Harris announced he was retiring from the NRL at the start of this year after struggling with ongoing problems after offseason surgery on a wrist injury. The legendary Warriors lock forward said at the time that he had “high hopes of returning from the injury” in 2025 but was “devastated” to instead have to hang up his boots. “I’m dealing with pain in everyday life as well as footy. My body has been feeling good in training but the reality is I can’t perform as a player with this injury,” Harris said. Harris was one of the Warriors’ most dependable players during his time at the club, playing 117 games for the New Zealand-based team after five seasons with the Storm from 2013 to 2017.“It takes a lot of discipline and consistency to get it right and that’s like sport. If you want to get it right and have results that’s what you need to do,” Harris told the Herald of his new job. “We’re excited about helping people with the next steps in their lives because buying property is a big decision and the more work we can do to make it easier for them will make it a good experience for them.”Kenny Bromwich scored 32 tries in 260 NRL games for the Storm and Dolphins and won two premierships with Melbourne in 2017 and 2020. The 34-year-old also scored three tries in 15 Tests for his native New Zealand and played four games for the Maori All Stars. Bromwich will join his brother in becoming a carpenter. Bromwich and Jesse, who was the Dolphins’ inaugural captain before retiring last year, are completing their carpentry apprenticeships and will join their uncle in the profession. “As kids we used to sell golf balls back to the golfers. We went through the 20s in Melbourne together, played first grade together, Kiwis together, Maoris together and then moved up to the Dolphins together,” Kenny told AAP. “Now we are finishing our apprenticeships on the tools together. Everything I’ve done has been with him.”The Tigers centre, who spent most of his NRL career at the Storm, announced his immediate retirement earlier in the year after a knee injury he suffered late in the 2024 season. The 31-year-old scored 52 tries in 117 games for the Storm and Tigers and won a premiership with Melbourne in 2017, while he also scored seven tries in 14 Tests for Papua New Guinea. Tigers coach Benji Marshall said Olam would “go down as one of the greatest — if not the greatest — players to represent PNG” and the former Kumuls player has already been making an impact back in PNG, having returned home in an ambassador role according to He was visiting schools and junior clubs as part of the role, where he also participated in coaching sessions and attended a Voice Against Violence workshop. With a PNG team set to enter the NRL in 2028, you would expect Olam will only take a more prominent role in setting up more structured pathways in his home country.Nicholls, who celebrated his final game with a try in a big win over the Raiders, finished up with 194 NRL games after a long career that spanned stops at Canberra, Melbourne and South Sydney before he joined the Dolphins. The 35-year-old journeymen debuted for the Raiders back in 2012, but his best footy came at the Rabbitohs where he scored six tries in 100 games, culminating in the 2021 Grand Final loss to the Panthers, before moving to the Dolphins for their inaugural season. Nicholls earned a reputation as a cult hero and it is no surprise given his popularity with the fanbase that he is staying involved with the Dolphins in an ambassadorial role.Christian Welch scored seven tries in 163 games for the Storm from 2016 to 2025, including premiership wins in 2017 and 2020. The 31-year-old also played six Origins for the Maroons, before he was medically retired by the Storm ahead of the 2025 season due to a debilitating back injury. Welch is one of the more astute minds in the game, having spent the majority of his career studying alongside his work on the football field. Last year he completed his Master of Business Administration, having already graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Commerce degree in 2020. With that in mind, Welch has previously signalled his desire to potentially become the CEO of an NRL club in the future or otherwise remain involved in sport in either an administrative or commercial role.Jordan McLean scored 10 tries in 242 games for the Storm and Cowboys between his debut in 2013 and 2025 and won a premiership with Melbourne in 2017. The 33-year-old prop also played eight Tests for Australia and won a World Cup with the Kangaroos in 2017, but was cruelled at Origin level as an injury rubbed him out of his debut. McLean was the ultimate workhorse and a selfless player that thrived on making hard carries in the middle and being a rock in defence. No fuss right until the end, McLean announced that the Cowboys’ final game of the 2025 season against the Broncos would be his last. McLean hasn’t announced what is next after his NRL career, but based on his Instagram account he has been spending his spare time with family and doing plenty of fishing.Tom Eisenhuth scored seven tries in 83 games for the Panthers, Storm and Dragons from 2012 to 2025 and won a premiership with Melbourne in 2017. An NRL journeymen, Eisenhuth had seven seasons pass between his debut for Penrith in 2012 and his second NRL game for the Storm in 2019, showing his absolute commitment to make the most of his ability and persevere to achieve his NRL dreams. In 2024, Eisenhuth had his best season in the NRL playing 24 games for the Dragons and scoring two tries, but in May of 2025 he was forced to retire due to ongoing concussion issues.“There’s a lot of life after football. I want to be able to make the most of that and spend that time with my family. “I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the club, the coaching staff, all my teammates and everyone in rugby league who’s helped me out over the years. Dragons Head Coach Shane Flanagan paid tribute to Eisenhuth’s contribution to the club and said the journeyman would “continue to contribute to the club in an off-field capacity”.Chee-Kam announced he was retiring from rugby league in a social media post earlier this week after a long career that spanned stops at the Sea Eagles, Tigers and Rabbitohs. “From a kid in Auckland NZ, who came over at 17 with nothing but a dream to play just one game in the NRL, to playing over 100 and living that dream for more than a decade – I’m beyond grateful,” Chee-Kam wrote in a post on social media. “None of it would’ve been possible without my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who has blessed me tremendously. “Through this game I met my wife, bought a home, travelled the world, made life long friend’s and started a family – blessings I’ll cherish forever.” The versatile Chee-Kam was often Mr. Fix It across his NRL career, playing both in the second row and the centre.
Coaching Ranks New South Wales Mental Health Premiership Winner Jesse South Sydney Rabbitohs Premiership Winner Pitches Retiring Players Coaching Staffrugby Tom Eisenhuth Melbourne V Sydney Roosters Oceania Golf Channel Chad Townsend Michael Cheika Young Guys Fox League Shaun Lane Australia And New Zealand Golf Course Victoria Mental Health Space Golf Show Footy Career Plan Mentor Role Sydney Roosters Career Path Open Training Session Roster Carnage Mental Health Stuff Coaching Ambitions Jordan Mclean Kenny Bromwich Christian Welch Kieran Foran Australia Sydney
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