Veteran centre Matt Cooper is set to announce his retirement from the NRL after 243 games for St George Illawarra.

Cooper is off contract at the end of the season and is expected to announce his retirement at a press conference with Dragons chief executive Peter Doust and coach Steve Price on Tuesday morning.

The 34-year-old was last month ruled out for the remainder of the season with a torn pectoral muscle, suffered in round 19’s golden-point win over South Sydney.

It followed a lengthy stint on the sidelines with a foot injury.

The Shellharbour product and 2010 premiership winner is the last remaining member of the Dragons’ `Super Six’ still with the club – a group which included the likes of Trent Barrett, Mark Gasnier and Jason Ryles, who formed the core of St George Illawarra in the early years of the merger.

Cooper made his first-grade debut with the Dragons against Cronulla in February 2000.

He has also played seven Tests for Australia and 13 Origin games for NSW.