Broncos winger Corey Oates has announced his retirement following 12 seasons in the NRL.
After 216 first-grade games with Brisbane, including 121 tries, Oates finishes third on the club's all-time try-scoring list behind Steve Renouf and Darren Lockyer.
Originally from rural central Queensland, the 29-year-old also featured nine times for the Maroons, scoring three State of Origin tries.
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Oates said spending more time with his young family, as well as a difficult run with injuries, were the main reasons for his decision.
"When you have kids and family, and when you get to that point in your career, you evaluate what’s important – and I want to be part of my kids life and do as much as I can with them," Oates said.
"The last 18 months haven’t been kind with my body and my injuries, but it’s my family that are my main priority now and that’s why I’ve made the decision to retire.
"I never thought I was going to play one game, let alone over 200. I never wanted to be the person who went one season too many and now is the right time for me to go.
"Playing Origin for Queensland and playing for the Broncos – I still have to pinch myself that it all happened for real, but when I got those opportunities, I took them."
Broncos club boss Dave Donaghy paid tribute to Oates following the decision.
"Corey has given his all for the Broncos over more than a decade and he has left everything out on the field for our club," Donaghy said.
"He is in a select handful of players to have recorded more than 200 games for the Broncos and it’s testament to his loyalty that he will finish his career as a one-club player.
"On behalf of the entire Broncos organisation, we wish Corey and his family all the best and thank him for his incredible contribution to the club."
