Hull's Australian forward Ben Galea has announced his retirement from rugby league with immediate effect.
The 34-year-old secondrower had planned to hang up his boots at the end of the season, the 15th of his career, but a torn pectoral muscle sustained in Hull's Challenge Cup quarter-final win over Catalan Dragons in Perpignan last weekend, brought forward his retirement.
Galea made 15 appearances for the Black and Whites after joining them from city rivals Hull KR at the end of last season.
He had five seasons at Craven Park and is also a former NRL winner from his three-year spell in Sydney with Wests Tigers.
"This is every player's worst nightmare to have to retire through injury, especially for me personally," Galea said.
"I felt great, I felt as though I had another very good season in me and for that to end through injury is gut-wrenching."
Galea will undergo surgery next week and remain in East Yorkshire to begin his rehabilitation.
"I still feel like I've got a lot to give off the field," he added.
"I'll certainly be sticking around until the end of the season to help out wherever I can."
Share
