Justin Poore admits he had little option but to retire after the Hull KR prop was told one wrong tackle could leave him on crutches for the rest of his life.
Poore has now officially announced that he has been forced to hang up his boots because of the severity of a fractured knee-cap sustained in a defeat at Catalan on Easter Monday, as first revealed by the Mail.
Although his initial recovery went well, the 29-year-old has conceded defeat in his bid to play again after seeking advice from medical experts.
He told the Mail: "I'm disappointed to have to retire, but I can't get back to where I was before the injury.
"There was every possibility I could struggle to walk again if I went into a tackle wrong.
"My rehab was going well until the wires came out and I had a good chat with the surgeon who was happy with the strength of the knee. But there is no cartilage in my knee which means there is a high risk every time I play.
"I don't want to be walking on crutches for the rest of my life as that wouldn't be fair on my wife Cara or my young son Adon. Therefore, it was an easy decision made for me."
Having plied his trade here and in the NRL for over a decade, Poore is disappointed to be bowing out through injury.
Although he represented New South Wales in all three games of the 2009 State of Origin series, he was unable to be at his best during an indifferent spell at Rovers.
"This is not the way I wanted to leave the game," said Poore, who played just seven out of 28 games last season.
"I've not got my head around it all just yet. But I want to thank the fans for the support they have shown me."
"Since I injured my knee, there has been nothing but good luck messages.
"They realised the pain I was going through because they don't like seeing their players not playing.
"I wish I could repay them next year by helping them have a great season, but it has been a privilege to have played for this great club."
Returning to Australia on Tuesday, Poore admits leaving the game to pick up his plumbing tools is still hard for him to comprehend.
"I'll have a month off when I get home before I restart my plumbing apprenticeship," he said.
"I have a year and a half to go and I love doing it, which helps.
"The game has been so good to me and I'd like to thank people like Paul Hatton and Billy Mallinson for taking great care of me.
"They got me through the first two months following the injury which were very upsetting."
