- Dale Finucane has played his last game in the NRL
- Medical experts advise Shark Star, 32, to retire
- He suffered repeated blows to the head throughout his football career.
Cronulla enforcer Dale Finucane has announced his immediate retirement from the NRL on medical advice.
The Sharks co-captain, 32, was told by doctors to hang up his boots due to repeated blows to the head throughout his decorated career.
Finucane confirmed the development on Tuesday alongside coach Craig Fitzgibbon.
The double premiership winner with the Melbourne Storm is under contract with the Sharks until the end of 2025 but has been blighted by injuries of late.
He missed the end of the 2023 season with a torn biceps and fractured his eye socket earlier this year, restricting him to just three appearances so far.
Cronulla Enforcer co-captain Dale Finucane has announced his immediate retirement from the NRL on medical advice.
The veteran lock won two premierships with the Melbourne Storm in 2017 and 2020.
The Sharks co-captain, 32, was told by doctors to hang up his boots due to repeated blows to the head; He is also a talented musician outside of football.
He missed the end of the 2023 season with a torn biceps and fractured his eye socket earlier this season, restricting him to just three games so far.
The team has played 251 first grade matches, with the Sharks celebrating their 250th appearance in their second round victory over the Bulldogs in March.
Finucane also played five State of Origin matches for NSW in an impressive career that began in 2012.
Confirmation of Finucane’s retirement follows AFL star Nathan Murphy recently quitting the sport to ensure he lived a “full and healthy life” after suffering repeated concussions early in his career.
The defender, 24, won the premiership with Collingwood last year.
Murphy is the sixth AFL player to retire due to the effects of concussion in a 12-month period, joining Angus Brayshaw. [Melbourne]Paddy McCartin [Sydney]Paul Seedsman [Adelaide]Mark Adams [Brisbane] and Max Lynch [Hawthorn].
“I feel like it’s the right time and the right decision to hang up my football boots,” Murphy said in a statement.
Nathan Murphy recently retired from the AFL due to repeated head knocks and concussion concerns.
Collingwood star Nathan Murphy is the second AFL player to retire due to concussion this year, following Angus Brayshaw’s announcement in February.
A key defender, Murphy was often thrown into difficult contests which influenced the concussions that prematurely ended his career (pictured at last year’s Grand Final).
‘I love my football, but my priority is my future and making sure I live a full and healthy life.
“I would like to thank the club, coaches, teammates, staff and the Magpie Army for all their support throughout my playing career and for allowing me the opportunity to realize my childhood dream of playing in the AFL.
“It is not lost on me how lucky I am to have been able to experience premiership success with this group and club.
“I hope I was proud of the jump and thank the many people and supporters who helped me along the way.”