Ryan Hoffman set to retire at the end of the 2018 NRL season

Angus Reid

Ryan Hoffman set to retire at the end of the 2018 NRL season image

Melbourne Storm veteran Ryan Hoffman is set to hang up the boots at the end of the 2018 season.

The 34-year-old has played 259 matches for Melbourne, fifth-most all-time for the prestigious club.

During his 15-year career, Hoffman has amassed a total 319 NRL games including his 60 matches with the New Zealand Warriors between 2015 and 2017.

The second-rower also spent two years in England and played in Super League, where he ran out for the Wigan Warriors 34 times in 2011.

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Hoffman played in four grand finals for the Storm and has won a ridiculous 67.5 per cent of his matches at the club since his debut in 2003.

He has also represented New South Wales in 14 State of Origin matches, and Australia six times.

"I've been lucky to have lived out my boyhood dream and make a career out of rugby league for 16 years," Hoffman said via the Storm's website.

"I feel have achieved everything I can in the game and while it was hard to say the words out loud for the first time, I'm very content with the decision. I haven't lost of the love for the game, however I knew my time as a player was finished and I know this is the right decision.

"While the success I've enjoyed as part of the teams I've played in have been great moments, for me the real highlight of my career has been the people I've met and the lifelong friends I've made.

"I'm very thankful to Melbourne Storm for giving me my first chance at an NRL club and for allowing me to explore the rugby league world with my time at Wigan and the Warriors.

"I'm also grateful to Wigan and Warriors for the time I spent at those clubs, as they were very important parts of my career. I would like to especially thanks Dave Donaghy, Frank Ponissi and Craig Bellamy in allowing me to finish my career as a Melbourne Storm player.

"A very special thank you must go to my wife Melissa and my children Zach and Mia. Melissa has sacrificed a lot in her life to be a supportive and loving partner to me. For someone who is extremely intelligent and a driven person, for her to sacrifice her job to be with our children at home is something I can never repay her for."

 

Angus Reid

Angus Reid Photo