"It gave me everything": Chad Townsend announces NRL retirement

Chad Townsend has announced the 2025 season will be his last in the NRL.

The 34-year-old confirmed via Instagram he would retire at the end of the current season after a decorated NRL career.

He played 268 first grade matches across the Roosters, Cowboys, Warriors, and Sharks over a 16-year career.

Townsend was halfback in the Sharks' inaugural premiership in 2016 where they defeated the Melbourne Storm by two points.

"It's hard to put into words what this game means to me," Townsend wrote on Instagram.

"I'd like to thank my junior club, the Yarrawarrah Tigers for giving me an opportunity to fall in love with his game. The memories and friendships I created at my junior club still live with me today and I am very grateful for that.

"To the teams I played for... I am forever grateful for the opportunity you gave me to fulfil my dreams of playing in the NRL.

"When I think about the young kid who was footy obsessed from Yarrawarrah, who just wanted to play footy with his mates, who stood on the family hill waving his flag, who had dreams of making it to the NRL and who had to earn everything he got, my heart and soul are filled with love and gratitude.

"The game owed me nothing, but it gave me everything."

SEN 1170's Jimmy Smith paid credit to Townsend and his positive influence he's had on the NRL.

"He's had an incredible career," Smith said on SEN 1170 Afternoons.

"He finishes as an inaugural premiership winner... which will be with him for the rest of his days.

"He's got everything out of himself and has achieved so much in the game... what more could you want in a professional?

"Turns up, trains hard. Low maintenance, hugely positive influence around every other young player.

"I remember years ago that he would go around to the Cronulla young players and say 'guys, don't look at your phone straight after the games. Don't need to do that.'

"This is a guy who's fully engaged in social media, but he knew when was an appropriate time and an inappropriate time.

"Congratulations, Chad Townsend, on what's been an excellent career."