Former NSW and Newcastle skipper Kurt Gidley has announced he'll retire at the end of the Super League season.
Gidley, 35, who joined Warrington last year having spent his entire NRL career with the Knights, will play out the remainder of this year with the Wolves, and return to Australia with his family.
The versatile Gidley, who also played 12 times for Australia, debuted for Newcastle in 2001 and was made captain of NSW by Craig Bellamy for the 2009 and 2010 State of Origin series.
Since moving to Warrington Gidley helped the side reach last year's Super League grand final but opted against taking up the option of a third season with the Wolves.
"I had played all my career at Newcastle but always had the desire to come over to Super League," Gidley told the Warrington official website.
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"I'm really grateful that I got the opportunity to play here at the back end of my career and experience it.
"I've never been motivated by money to play an extra year and I'm content with what I've done in my career
"My family and I will settle back at Newcastle where I grew up and played most of my career. We'll settle back by the beach and then make plans for life after footy."
Warrington head coach Tony Smith paid tribute to Gidley and said he fully respected his decision to move away from Warrington.
"It's always tough for a player of his calibre to come up with the decision to retire but we are very supportive of Kurt's decision," Smith said.
"It's a very personal one. I think he's a quality person and a quality player. His resume speaks for itself and he's certainly added to the culture in his time here."
