Hull KR's Australian forward Justin Poore has announced his retirement with immediate effect, bringing the curtain down on a rugby league career featuring 209 senior appearances at both ends of the world.
The 29-year-old former St George Illawarra and Parramatta prop joined the Robins from Wakefield at the start of the 2014 season but his campaign was cut short by a fractured knee cap suffered in the Easter Monday defeat by Catalans Dragons.
Despite undergoing surgery and an extensive rehabilitation program, Poore has decided to hang up his boots and return to Australia with his family.
"It's never an easy call to make but I know it's the right decision for me, my family and for the club as well," Poore said.
"My knee has been responding well to treatment but the feedback from the medical staff is that I run the risk of damaging it further if I was to return. The contact might mean I would never be able to walk properly again and that's not a risk I want to take."
Poore, who made three State of Origin appearances for New South Wales in 2009, plans to continue a plumbing apprenticeship in Australia.
Hull KR chief executive Mike Smith said: "It's always sad when a player decides to retire because of injury, particularly in Justin's case as we know how hard he has worked to try to get back on the pitch next year."
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