Rugby league great Trent Merrin announced his NRL retirement on Wednesday.
The prop leaves the game having represented his state, his country, Penrith and St. George Illawarra with distinction.
Despite having played the opening six games of the NRL season for the Dragons, Merrin decided that he no longer has the desire to play at the top level and in doing so walked away from the game with an honourable gesture.
The 31-year-old simply said goodbye to the game without asking for an extra dollar despite having a right to his 2021 contract, and SEN host Andrew Voss paid tribute to the departing veteran.
“In a week where greed in sport has come to the fore with the European Super League, I come into context with rugby league,” Voss said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“Former New South Wales Origin star and Australian rep – the Dragons' Trent Merrin, deserving praise and our admiration after retiring yesterday.
“He’s called it quits with immediate effect, in his words, ‘This is a decision where I need to be true to myself, I’ve outgrown the game, and the game has outgrown me. Although my appreciation for the rugby league will never die’.
“Despite playing in all six games this year, I guess you could say the fire in this Dragon has gone out.
“Coach Anthony Griffin spelled out the character of Trent Merrin yesterday saying, ‘I think it’s one of the most selfless things that I’ve seen a player do, that he hasn’t asked for any money and he hasn’t asked for any time. He could have hung around for the next 20 weeks and picked up his cheque and played off the bench, but he realises he’s not getting what he needs out of the game to fulfil himself. In doing that, he realised the club is not getting out of his spot what it needs from him’.
“Trent has lived the dream, from his story as a young bloke, as a 14-year-old he weighed 114 kilos, by the under 18s he weighed 118 kilos.
“Overweight, he got sick of being the fat kid at high school, and his dad who played for Newtown back in the day would have Trent run too and from training in a garbage bag.
“This young fella, training in isolation to lose weight.
“Trent Merrin went on to be a first-grade star, 250 top-grade games, 13 Origins, seven Test matches and finishes his career on his terms.
“No handout for money, just thankful for what the game has given him.
“Well done Trent Merrin, be proud of what you achieved and certainly in your exit from all rugby league fans.”