 St
George Illawarra Dragons utility player Shaun
Timmins has announced his retirement from representative
rugby league.
The
Kangaroos and New South Wales Origin star
points to his desire to win a premiership
with the Dragons as being his main goal.
Timmins
was the centre of attention in 2004 when he
kicked a sensational match winning field goal
during golden point extra time in the first
State of Origin at Telstra Stadium.
"I
love playing for NSW and Australia and I don't
want to give it up but the time has probably
come," Timmins said.
"At
the end of Origin I struggled to play good
football and I want to do more for the club
to win the premiership we all want so badly.
"Through
the years the club has been so good to me
and the time has come to for me to pay them
back.
"I've
achieved a lot of what I've wanted to, but
I don't want to retire without having won
a premiership. If I retire from rep footy
I just think it will be probably be better
for me and the club. But I know I will have
a tough time watching State of Origin."
Timmins,
28 is equally at home in the centres or at
lock forward. He has also shown himself to
be a more than handy five eighth.
A
powerful runner and ruthless defender, Timmins
was selected to play for Australia and NSW
in 2000. He suffered a leg injury in a State
of Origin match and this revealed a condition
which sidelined him for approximately 18 months.
"My
knees feel fine at the moment and as long
as I look after them they are OK, but they
can get sore during the rep season and it
would be a good thing not to have to deal
with.
"At
the Dragons we have the team to win the competition,
we just haven't done it yet and we're running
out of time. Winning a premiership will be
my main goal from here. I love this place
and there are a great bunch of guys here and
it would be a great thing for a lot of people
if we could win the comp.
"I'm
willing to give all I have to do it. I want
to play my best football for them and at this
time in my career I think retiring from rep
football is the best way to do it."
A
Kiama High School graduate, Timmins has played
174 matches for the Steelers and the Dragons
since 1994. He was presented with the club’s
best player award in 2002.
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