After battling knee injuries for the majority of his decade-long first grade career, Antonio Winterstein was forced to make the agonising decision to hang up the boots towards the back end of the 2018 season.

Acting on medical advice, the premiership-winning winger announced his immediate retirement prior to the Round 20 clash with Newcastle, ending one of the great Cowboy careers.

Winterstein scored seven tries in his final season, including a memorable double against South Sydney in Round 11.

Fittingly, Winterstein was able to hold on long enough to play a couple of final games alongside long-time left side partner Kane Linnett, who missed the first half of the season with a torn pec.

Linnett returned in Round 13, but made his first two appearances of the season from the bench. Winterstein was forced to miss Round 15 against the Warriors through injury, but the pair were reunited for two final games in Rounds 16 and 17.

Winterstein finishes his Cowboys career as the ninth most capped player in club history with 168 appearances and the fifth highest try scorer with 78.

2018 stats:

Games: 16

Tries: 7

Tackle breaks: 34

Runs per game: 13

Run metres per game: 119