Sharks co-captain Finucane announces immediate NRL retirement

Cronulla Sharks co-captain Dale Finucane on Tuesday announced his immediate retirement from rugby league after 251 games in the NRL.

The former Bulldogs and Storm forward made the decision after seeking medical advice concerning his history with concussion.

“Over the last couple of weeks I’ve been going through a process of seeing a neurologist and neuropsychologist around the issues I’ve had with concussion,” Finucane said in a press conference.

“At the end of the day there was no decisions to make, the medical advice from the two medical experts was that I retire and don’t continue to play.

“I spoke with Clint Newton, President of the RLPA, around potential avenues to return to play and potentially go against that advice, but at the end of the day it wasn’t able to come to fruition.

“I’m disappointed about the premature end to how it’s finished, but I’m excited for the next chapter of my life.”

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The decision comes after Finucane failed a head-injury assessment during Cronulla’s clash with the Wests Tigers in round three this season.

That would prove to be the final game of an impressive NRL career that spanned 13 seasons, three clubs and three State of Origin series.

Finucane made his first-grade debut for the Canterbury Bulldogs in round 13 of the 2012 season and went on to play 66 games for the club before moving to Victoria after the 2014 campaign.

With the Melbourne Storm, the Bega native went on to win two premierships in seven seasons while earning five State of Origin caps for New South Wales.

He joined the Sharks for the start of the 2022 season, when he led them to second place on the NRL ladder, and finishes with 33 appearances for the club.

Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon was effusive in his praise for Finucane, dubbing him a “symbol for success” and highlighting his “spirit and selflessness”.

“Dale’s signing is one of the most significant signings our club will ever make,” he said.

“Besides just being a great man, I feel like he has just delivered in spades.

“He’s changed the fabric of the way the boys prepare for a game of footy, the way they carry themselves, and I don’t think our club will ever forget his time here.”

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News of Finucane’s retirement broke just hours before rugby league legend Wally Lewis addressed the National Press Club of Australia on his experiences living with dementia as a probable result of the many head knocks he suffered during his career.

Lewis was joined at the event by Collingwood premiership defender Nathan Murphy, who ended his AFL career last week at the age of 24 due to concussion concerns.

Both Lewis and Murphy called for heavy investment in grassroots education surrounding the long-term dangers of head injuries in sport, including extensive instruction on tackling technique and risk minimisation for junior players.

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