Kimmorley calls time
Veteran Canterbury half back Brett Kimmorley will take up a coaching role with the Bulldogs next season after announcing his retirement at the end of the current campaign.
The 32-year-old former Newcastle, Melbourne and Cronulla player played 10 times for New South Wales and won 20 caps for Australia during a 16-year top flight career.
Kimmorley says the decision to move into coaching is the right one.
“I’ve weighed up many options in the past few weeks and I’ve decided that coaching is without doubt the right future for me at this stage of my career,” Kimmorley said.
“There’s been much for me to consider in arriving at this decision. I’m still physically fit and I had offers to continue playing but I also knew that the opportunity to start a coaching career at a Club like Canterbury doesn’t come around every day.
“I feel at home here and with the Club’s great history of developing premiership winning coaches I feel it’s the perfect place for me to make the move into coaching.
“I already do a lot of coaching work with individuals so I’m expecting the transition from playing to coaching to be fairly smooth.
“Above all though, I’d like to thank my entire family for the incredible support they’ve given me over such a long period – hopefully they’ll all now be able to get on with their lives without it being dictated by when and where I’m playing footy each weekend.”
Chief Executive Mr Todd Greenberg says the Bulldogs are honoured by Kimmorley’s commitment to remain with the Club.
“Brett Kimmorley will finish his playing days remembered as one of the most competitive and professional players to have graced a footy field and we’re delighted he’ll continue to make an important contribution to Rugby League through his role as assistant coach of the Bulldogs,” Mr Greenberg said.
“He has excelled at every level of the game, he is highly regarded as one of the game’s best tacticians and we’re privileged that he’ll be sharing his great knowledge with the youngsters coming through the Club.