 Radlinski joined Wigan as a 17-year-old in 1993 |
Wigan full-back Kris Radlinski has retired from the game with immediate effect after losing his battle against a persistent knee injury. The 29-year-old Great Britain star has suffered a series of injuries in the last few seasons and has now decided to call time on his career.
"I am so disappointed that I have to give up the game I love so much," Radlinski said.
"To be honest I think the day has been coming for a little while."
Radlinski joined the Warriors in 1993 and went on to make 310 appearances, scoring 183 tries.
His 231 appearances in Super League are the most by a Wigan player in the summer era.
However, the last few seasons of his career have been blighted by injuries with chest, neck, wrist, back, hamstring and knee problems all taking their toll.
He only managed to play 15 games last season and has been out of action completely since last July.
 |  I want to thank everyone at the club and especially the fans who have been great to me over the years |
"I need to be fair to the club as well as myself," Radlinski added.
"I want Wigan to be successful. The club has been great to me over the years and now that I have made this decision they can start planning.
"I've talked it over at length with chairman Maurice Lindsay and we both agree this is the best way forward.
"Maurice has suggested to me that I consider getting involved with the club's youth division, that is something I will consider in the future.
"I want to thank everyone at the club and especially the fans who have been great to me over the years.
"I have so many memories to treasure with possibly none more so than winning the Lance Todd Trophy at Murrayfield in the Challenge Cup Final of 2002. I will always remain a Wigan fan which is where I started."
And Lindsay expressed his disappointment that Radlinski had to retire.
"This is dreadful news for both Kris and the club and indeed for the whole of the rugby league," he said.
"Kris has been battling against one injury after another since the time he was injured against Australia in Sydney in 2002.
"The final straw arrived when he could not make sufficient recovery from his long-standing knee injury.
"We fully understand his right to give up the struggle particularly as he has been such a great servant to the club and the game itself."
Radlinski also earned 20 caps for Great Britain and twice turned down lucrative offers to switch to rugby union.
Lindsay added: "The retirement of Kris probably marks the end of a remarkable phase in the Wigan club's history.
"He played along side the likes of Andy Farrell, Jason Robinson, Gary Connolly, Terry Newton, Mick Cassidy, Martin Offiah, Denis Betts, Adrian Lam and many others but we now have a new team which will hopefully produce new stars.
"If the current players show the same character and courage that Kris showed us, we will be more than successful."
MMIX
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