Former Hull FC captain Gareth Ellis has reflected on the decision to hang up his boots after a stellar career spanning the last 21 years.
Having originally retired at the end of the 2017 campaign after leading the Black & Whites to back-to-back Challenge Cup Final victories at Wembley Stadium, Ellis returned in the early stages of 2019 to bolster an injury-ravaged FC squad, going on to make a further 28 appearances for the club.
However, following the completion of the 2020 Betfred Super League campaign, the former FC captain announced the decision to call him on his career earlier today.
Speaking to hullfc.com, Ellis said: “Now the dust has settled on our season, it seems the right time to officially confirm my second retirement.
“Whereas the decision to retire at the end of the 2017 season was very difficult and one a wrestled with for some time, as you can imagine this time around it was much more straight forward and something I have alluded to throughout this year’s campaign.
“I’ve always prided myself as someone who can lead from the front and make a difference in games, but as the years have caught up on me it gets more and more difficult to come to terms with not being physically able to be that player anymore and would get frustrated with some mediocre performances.”
On his 2020 Betfred Super League campaign, he added: “My plan was to play as many games as possible throughout the 2020 season, but just before lockdown in March my knee was struggling to recover from the rigours of Super League – to the point I’d had a discussion with the coaches about the prospect of calling it a day.
“However the season was put on hold due to the virus and I saw it as an opportunity to see how my knee settled down, which it did and felt great on the resumption of training in July.
“Unfortunately that was short lived and a few games in I was back to nursing myself through training and hobbling down the stairs after games. After a consultation with one of our doctors Andrew Edwards, it was clear that I was potentially causing more damage to already worn, old knees which could mean I would need intervention sooner than I likely already will.
“With a young family and the advice of the people around me; my dad, staff at the club and coaches, I decided it was time to hang up the boots for a second time while continuing to train and focus on helping the team improve for the rest of the season.”
The 39-year old though expressed his satisfaction at the opportunity to retire for the final time on his own terms.
“I’m really grateful for the opportunity to come out of retirement – it feels like a more natural end to a 21 year career and a decision I’m much more content with this time around.
“The players kept me young and it was great to be back in the dressing room amongst the lads – something any retired player will tell you they miss the most. Having had the opportunity to experience life as a player for the past 18 months, I feel much better prepared for life after rugby.
Ellis will now take up an assistant role within the Black & Whites’ coaching department.
“The plan is now to pick up from where I left off in 2018 and take up a coaching role at the club which is something I’m really looking forward to.
“I’ll be trying to use my own experience as well as the little nuggets of advice given to me throughout my career that made the biggest impact on how I trained and played in order to be the best I could be.”
The former Wakefield, Leeds, and Wests Tigers star paid tribute to those who have helped him through the lows, and many highs of his career.
“So many people have contributed to my career over the years, too many to thank individually but all the coaches, conditioners, physios, analysts, agents and of course the players that I’ve taken the field along side and played against as they set the challenge of how you must play.
“My amateur clubs Whitemoor Warriors, Half Acres Trinity and Lock Lane set me on the path with the grounding and rugby league morals to take into my professional career.
“York Academy set me on my way to representing Wakefield Trinity, Leeds Rhinos, Wests Tigers and of course Hull FC, as well as England and Great Britain.
“I have been extremely proud and grateful to represent all of those great clubs including my nation and be part of their history. I have always been aware of the players sacrifice and commitment to the badge that have gone before me.
“As players, we never own the shirt we are representing – we are custodians of it. I hope that which ever club I have represented I have done that jersey proud and left my own mark on it for the next player to aspire too.”
He added: “As most people are aware, Rugby League can be a rollercoaster full of the highs of winning, whether that’s the Challenge Cup or Super League trophy, a game in Golden Point, or the feeling of accomplishment of getting through a tough pre-season training session alongside your team mates. To the lows of losing all of the above and of course injuries, bust ribs, a snapped Achilles, and I try to forget the broken foot on debut in 2013.
“The one thing which has remained a constant support throughout my life and career has been my agent David Howes, who’s advice and support has help shape my career. My family, mum and dad, Pam and Ken, three sisters, Lynsey, Joanne and Rachel. And my wife Rachael and three kids Isaac, Eva and Florence who have road the wave with me. To them and everyone else I have met along the way, thank you!”
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