More than a month after being told by specialists his shoulder was “beyond repair”, veteran Brisbane backrower Matt Gillett thought he was ready to reveal injury had forced him into NRL retirement on Thursday.
He was wrong.
A tearful Gillett, 31, struggled throughout his press conference while confirming he would be ending his stellar 10 season career – all with the Broncos – despite having his consoling coach Anthony Seibold by his side.
Gillett admitted it was his worst fear to have an injury force him into retirement, especially with three seasons still left on his contract.
But the medical evidence was clear.
Not that Gillett feared the worst at the time he suffered what seemed like another shoulder knock in their round 23 clash with South Sydney on August 23.
Gillett not only played on but finished the season by marking his 200th NRL game – albeit in Brisbane’s horror 58-0 elimination final loss to Parramatta.
Little did Gillett know worse was to come after undergoing scans a week after their embarrassing finals exit.
“The second specialist I saw told me he had done shoulder replacements with less (damage) than mine so that a good indicator,” Gillett said.
Still, Gillett initially held onto hope that he could play on – until each specialist gave the same sobering verdict.
“I sought out a number of medical opinions from a range of doctors and all said the same thing that the shoulder is beyond repair for a return to rugby league,” Gillett said.
“It was a huge shock. It was a really hard decision to retire but I had to do what was best for my health and my family.
“At the end of the day it was a no brainer (to retire).”
The veteran of 20 Origins and 12 Tests has been plagued by injuries the past two seasons, suffering a broken neck in 2018 while nursing back, knee and his ongoing shoulder issue this year.
Yet it didn’t make it any easier for Gillett to draw the curtain on Thursday.
“The last thing I wanted to do was give the game away due to injury – I would have loved to have gone out on a better note,” he said.
“It was not the way I wanted to go out when we played Parramatta.”
An emotional Gillett was at least cheered up during his announcement by his young son Hunter who heckled, burped and at one stage knocked down a stack of chairs to break the tension at the press conference.
Still, nothing could ease the pain of Gillett’s loss for Seibold who revealed he broke down when told of his backrower’s fitness plight.
“One of the medical staff said to me if it was my son I couldn’t let him play on,” said Seibold.
“I was quite emotional about that. I think it is the right decision but we will miss him – he’s a special guy.”
