WITH North Queensland’s forwards stocks running deep and his body starting to tap him on the shoulder, Cowboys veteran backrower Glenn Hall has called time on his NRL career.

Hall yesterday announced his retirement from first grade effective the end of this season, bringing to a close a career which has so far experienced 192 games, five NRL clubs, five finals campaigns, a stint in the English Super League and a premiership win with Manly in 2008.

A true good guy of rugby league, Hall was one of a number of key senior players to join North Queensland ahead of the 2011 season, along with Dallas Johnson, Ashton Sims and Brent Tate, and has been a part of the leadership group as the Cowboys have qualified for their fifth straight finals.

The 34-year-old made three of his 98 Cowboys appearances in 2015 but has played a strong role in the Townsville Blackhawks charge to the minor premiership in their maiden season in the Intrust Super Cup.

“I think the body has started telling me things through the year and after a long and hot pre-season and then the first couple of rounds I was just pulling up a little bit sore and taking that little bit longer to get over those little bumps and bruises,” Hall said.

“Obviously being 34 now, you start to feel those things and you slow down a little bit more and I was suppose it was my body’s way of telling me it was time to go.

“Looking forward for the Cowboys too, they’ve got such a good nursery of kids coming through and Greeny (Paul Green) has really got them going in the right direction.”

Hall, wife Kylie and their young family will remain in Townsville, and he will take up a job with Cec Ivers’ GTS Equipment Hire and said excitement had overtaken the nerves he once held about a job outside the NRL.

But in the meantime his focus is on helping the Blackhawks maintain their impressive start and would step up if required for the Cowboys run at the premiership.

“I’ll never say never and as I tell Greeny, I keep trying to find out where I need to improve and what I can be doing for the team,” he said.

“I’m of the mindset that if I keep myself as fit as I can and if the opportunity arises I’m ready to go and do a job for the team.

“If it comes, I’ll take it with two hands and if it doesn’t I’m there to support the team and the boys in any way I can.”

While the grand final win with his good mates at Manly remains one of the highs of his career, a lower profile memory stands out in his time with the Cowboys.

“It was my first year here and we made the semis and Johnathan and Thumper (Matt Scott) needed treatment going into the finals and the club asked me to go down (to Sydney) and do the captain’s call,” he said.

“It’s nothing big or anything like that but just that the club had enough faith in me to go and represent them leading into the semi-finals was pretty cool.”

Hall wanted to thank his wife Kylie for her support over the years and hasn’t fully ruled out playing rugby league next season, considering playing again with the Blackhawks next year.