Titans skipper Friend to retire from NRL

Gold Coast co-captain Nathan Friend has announced he'll be retiring from the NRL at the end of the current campaign.

Titans player Nathan Friend

Gold Coast Titans co-captain Nathan Friend will retire at the end of the current NRL season. (AAP)

Gold Coast co-captain Nathan Friend will retire from the NRL at the end of the 2016 season.

The 35-year-old hooker announced his intention to quit the game on Tuesday, saying the time had come for him to focus on wife Kellie and their two children.

"Thanks to everyone that has had a hand in my career. I'm forever grateful for the support and guidance I have received," Friend said.

"I look forward to the next chapter of parental duties on weekends and being around family and loved ones once again."

Friend's 15-year career began in 2002 when he debuted for Brisbane.

The Toowoomba product then joined the Melbourne but played only 34 games due to the emergence of Cameron Smith.

After coming off the bench in the Storm's losing grand final team in 2006, Friend headed back to Queensland to join the inaugural Titans squad.

Friend played 100 games for Gold Coast before joining the Warriors for three seasons.

He then moved back to the Titans on a one-year deal this season.

Having featured in both of the Titans' finals campaigns in 2009 and 2010, Friend says it would be fitting if he can end his career by leading the club to a top eight finish.

"That would be great," he said.

"I just want to work as hard as I can for the team and enjoy every moment I can until whenever my last game might be."

NATHAN FRIEND'S NRL CAREER

Games: 235

Clubs: Brisbane (2002), Melbourne (2003-06), Titans (2007-11, 2016), Warriors (2012-15)

* Played for Storm in 2006 NRL grand final

* Played for NRL All-Stars in 2015


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Source: AAP



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