Sydney Roosters star Daniel Tupou has announced his retirement days after winning the grand final.
The winger helped the Roosters win four premierships in a storied career, which began in 2012.
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He scored 198 tries in 307 appearances, making him a club favourite among the fans.
Tupou spent his entire career in Bondi and said he was blessed to do so as he announced his retirement.
“I’ve been thinking about this for a while, and I know the time is right for me to finish playing,” said Tupou.
“It’s hard to put into words what the Roosters have meant to me because this Club has been such a big part of my life.
“I feel incredibly blessed. I came here as a young kid just hoping for an opportunity and I could never have imagined the journey that would follow or everything I would be fortunate enough to experience along the way.
“My faith has always been a really important part of who I am, and I’m grateful to God for the opportunities I’ve been given, the people He has placed in my life and for allowing me to play the game I love for as long as I have.
“To have played my whole NRL career at one Club means a lot to me. The Roosters gave me my opportunity and this has become my home. To play more than 300 games, win four Premierships and share those moments with so many great teammates is something I’ll always be proud of.
“The Premierships are obviously very special, but when I look back, it’s the people and all the memories we’ve shared together that I’ll probably treasure the most. I’ve made friendships here that will last a lifetime.”
Tupou, who reached 300 NRL appearances this year, thanked a number of people for their work and support throughout his career.
He featured in all four grand final wins, most recently on Sunday against the Newcastle Knights.
The 35-year-old is also a three-time World Club Challenge winner and retires as the Roosters’ leading try scorer, having overtaken Anthony Minichiello in 2023.
“I’m really grateful to all the coaches and staff who have helped me throughout my career, and to all of my teammates, past and present,” he added.
“I want to thank our Chairman, Nick Politis, for everything he has done for me over the years. The love and care Nick has for his players, and the way he makes their families feel part of the Roosters, is something that makes this Club very special. I’ll always be grateful for the support he has shown me throughout my career.
“I especially want to thank Trent Robinson. He’s been my coach for almost my entire career and has had a huge influence on the player and the person I’ve become. He believed in me from the beginning, helped bring me out of my shell and has always challenged me to keep growing, not just as a footballer but as a man.
“We’ve shared some pretty special moments together over the years and I feel very blessed to have had him as my coach. I’ve got so much respect for Robbo and I’ll always be very grateful for everything he’s done for me.
“My family has been there with me through everything. My parents, Michael and Ofa, made so many sacrifices for me and gave me the opportunity to chase this dream, and I’ll always be grateful to them.
“My wife Kasilita has been by my side since the beginning of this journey and has supported me through all the highs and lows that come with playing footy. And now to have our son Michael there and to be able to share the end of my career with him has made it even more special. I hope that one day, when he’s old enough to understand it all, he’ll be proud of what his dad was able to achieve.
“And to our Members and supporters, thank you for the way you’ve supported me from the very beginning. I’ve always been proud to represent this Club and wear the Roosters jersey.
“I’ve been very blessed to live the career that I have. I’ll always be a Rooster, and I’ll always be grateful for everything this game and this Club have given me.”
Originally published as Daniel Tupou announces retirement days after winning his fourth premiership