O’Meley to retire at end of 2013

Hull’s former Australian international prop Mark O’Meley will hang up his boots at the end of next season.

O’Meley, 31, has spent the past three years at the KC Stadium and signed a new deal for 2013 earlier this year.

He told the Hull Daily Mail: “”I have promised my wife that next year is definitely my last. I’ll play this season and then that will be it for me with rugby league.

“It’s been a great move here for me, I love the place. Each year when Hull Fair comes around I’m like a big kid. It has taken me three years to find the local golf courses, but I’ve loved my time here,” he added.

“I won’t go and play back in Australia because as a kid I watched all the old Australians go back to play in my local competition.

“Every week the other players were trying to fight them. Rugby league is massive in Australia and you have all these young blokes trying to make a name for themselves.

“You end up coming away with a black eye when you turn up for work every Monday morning.”

O’Meley, who earned 15 Australia test caps and made 10 State of Origin appearances for New South Wales, began his career with North Sydney Bears in 1999 and went on to play for Northern Eagles, Canterbury Bulldogs and Sydney Roosters.

He won the NRL with Canterbury back in 2004, and also represented the Exiles in International origin in 2011.