There will be a number of players leaving the NRL at the end of the year through retirement, heading overseas for the English Super League or perhaps because they won't be able to secure a new contract.

Then, of course, we have the unfortunate situation where some players are forced to leave the game at a relatively young age through recurring injuries. The likes of Pat O'Hanlon, 25, Tim Moltzen, 27, James McManus, 30, and Ben Henry, 24, have succumbed to repeated injuries and decided to give the game away. It's sad, but there's more to life than football. We congratulate and thank them for their service. We wish them well for the future.

At the end of this season, though, our game will lose some very notable retirees. I'd like to recognise them in some small way through this column.

It is sad we'll be losing such an amazing and wonderfully gifted group of senior footballers at the end of the 2016 season. They have all served our game so well and I'm sure I'm echoing the sentiments of all rugby league supporters in thanking them for their efforts and wishing them all the very best with their futures.

Great job lads. Enjoy your retirement.