While most of the attention on Sunday afternoon is on crowning the next NRL premier, before the Storm and Broncos players take to the field the crowd at Accor Stadium will farewell a host of big names. <\/p>\n
Another great retirement, brought to you by Hostplus<\/a>. That\u2019s a plus.<\/p>\n Watch every game of the NRL Telstra Premiership Finals Series before the Grand Final, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.<\/a><\/p>\n From premiership winners to even a veteran who was honoured at this week\u2019s Dally M medal ceremony, here is the list of retirees to hang up the boots at the end of 2025.<\/p>\n WHAT’S GAMBLING REALLY COSTING YOU? Set a deposit limit. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.<\/p>\n Read on for the NRL retiring class of 2025. <\/p>\n CHAD TOWNSEND (Sydney Roosters)<\/p>\n Chad Townsend scored 40 tries in 268 NRL games for the Sharks, Warriors, Cowboys and Roosters in a career spanning 2011 to 2025, including a premiership with the Sharks in 2016.<\/p>\n Townsend joined the Roosters in 2025 as a back-up half option and worked with the Roosters\u2019 young stars in Hugo Savala, Sam Walker and Sandon Smith, playing six games in his final season. <\/p>\n Townsend, who played at halfback in the Sharks\u2019 2016 title win, has his sights set well and truly on a media career.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously I have made it pretty clear that I love TV and radio and I want to pursue that as hard as I can,\u201d Townsend said on his YouTube Channel<\/a>.<\/p>\n But the 34-year-old doesn\u2019t want to limit himself to just one career path. Townsend is open to trying his hand in the coaching ranks.<\/p>\n \u201cThis year at the Roosters I really have enjoyed helping our younger halves,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The biggest broncos fan has been found | 01:53<\/p>\n \u201cThat mentor role. Helping them prepare for the NRL. These guys who are in our squad just grow and take on information.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think for me it\u2019s one thing.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s multiple things.\u201d<\/p>\n Townsend already boasts a very strong presence on YouTube, with over 47,000 subscribers, and said he also wants to \u201creally dial into\u201d the content creation side of the game.<\/p>\n Chad Townsend won a premiership with the Sharks in 2016.Source: Supplied<\/p>\n KIERAN FORAN (Gold Coast Titans)<\/p>\n Kieran Foran scored 60 tries in 318 games for the Sea Eagles, Eels, Warriors, Bulldogs and Titans from 2009 to 2025, including a premiership win with Manly in 2011. <\/p>\n The 35-year-old also played 31 Test matches for New Zealand in a glittering international career. <\/p>\n Foran is set to take a similar path to Townsend, with media and coaching ambitions.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been able to get a really good taste and some experience in the media and I\u2019ve thoroughly enjoyed that,\u201d Foran told SEN\u2019s <\/a>The Run Home<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been awesome just getting on there and talking footy.<\/p>\n \u201cI absolutely love the game so that\u2019s been really cool to get some experience in that space.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve got ambitions to coach, for sure. I want to certainly help shape and mould the next generation of young guys coming through and do whatever I can to pass on my footy knowledge and experiences onto them to help them in their next phase.\u201d<\/p>\n 2025 NRLW Fan Fest kicks off | 04:47<\/p>\n The retiring Titans half and 2011 Manly premiership winner also feels he can provide assistance in the mental health space as well, having this week been named the latest recipient of the Ken Stephen Medal for his work in the community.<\/p>\n \u201cThe mental health stuff is something I\u2019m extremely passionate about,\u201d Foran added.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been really open over the course of the last couple of years on touching on my own life\u2019s challenges and battles that I\u2019ve faced personally.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd just the work that I can do in that space to try and help young guys in particular not feel alone and not feel vulnerable in that space and feel OK.<\/p>\n \u201cI think between those three areas is somewhere that I\u2019ll look to really focus on once I hang the boots up.\u201d<\/p>\n MORE NRL NEWS<\/p>\n \u2018F***ING BIZARRE\u2019: Inside Broncos\u2019 roster carnage and Madge\u2019s touch \u2014 McKinnon<\/a><\/p>\n \u2018IN TATTERS\u2019: How Madge hit rock bottom at Tigers before \u2018incredible\u2019 comeback<\/a><\/p>\n \u2018SERIOUS\u2019: Lomax rumoured to walk out on Eels to join R360 as NRL threaten action<\/a><\/p>\n Kieran Foran won a title with Manly in 2011.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n SHAUN LANE (Parramatta Eels)<\/p>\n Shaun Lane scored 36 tries in 186 NRL games for the Bulldogs, Warriors, Sea Eagles and Eels, including making a Grand Final with Parramatta in 2022. <\/p>\n Lane is also following Foran down the mental health career path.<\/p>\n Lane has taken on a role with Parramatta\u2019s Elite Pathways and NRLW programs, with the focus on mental skills and athlete wellness.<\/p>\n The 30-year-old has a Bachelor of Health Sciences, a Graduate Diploma in Psychology, and is currently in the middle of a Master\u2019s in Positive Psychology.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m now looking forward to continuing my career at Parramatta in a different capacity, helping our young athletes thrive on and off the field,\u201d Lane said in a statement on the Eels\u2019 website<\/a>.<\/p>\n Shaun Lane helped lead the Eels to the 2022 Grand Final.Source: Supplied<\/p>\n TOHU HARRIS (Warriors)<\/p>\n Harris announced he was retiring from the NRL at the start of this year after struggling with ongoing problems after offseason surgery on a wrist injury.<\/p>\n The legendary Warriors lock forward said at the time that he had \u201chigh hopes of returning from the injury\u201d in 2025 but was \u201cdevastated\u201d to instead have to hang up his boots.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m dealing with pain in everyday life as well as footy. My body has been feeling good in training but the reality is I can\u2019t perform as a player with this injury,\u201d Harris said.<\/p>\n Harris was one of the Warriors\u2019 most dependable players during his time at the club, playing 117 games for the New Zealand-based team after five seasons with the Storm from 2013 to 2017.<\/p>\n