The Sunshine Coast Falcons CEO Chris Flannery has announced off-season signing Joel Moon has unfortunately been forced to retire due to on-going knee issues.

The 270-game veteran signed with the Falcons in October last year after knee issues had cut his career short in the UK Super League a few years prior.

He had been completing a modified pre-season training plan with the Falcons, but persistent knee troubles have continued to plague the Sunshine Coast junior, and he has decided to hang up the boots.

“The Falcons Football Club would like to thank Joel for his efforts over the pre-season," Flannery said.

"After such a brilliant NRL and Super League career at the top level, it has been wonderful to have Joel around the Falcons playing group, and we are hopeful that he will stay on in a coaching or sports trainer role of some capacity in the future.

"Joel definitely has the desire to keep playing and competing, but unfortunately his knee won’t allow him to do the things that he wants to do on the football field, and he has had to make the very tough decision to retire.

"We would like to wish him and his family all the very best for the future and thank him for his time at the Falcons ”