Timmins retires from rep football

St George Illawarra Dragons utility player Shaun Timmins has announced his retirement from representative rugby league.

The Kangaroos and New South Wales Origin star points to his desire to win a premiership with the Dragons as being his main goal.

Timmins was the centre of attention in 2004 when he kicked a sensational match winning field goal during golden point extra time in the first State of Origin at Telstra Stadium.

"I love playing for NSW and Australia and I don't want to give it up but the time has probably come," Timmins said.

"At the end of Origin I struggled to play good football and I want to do more for the club to win the premiership we all want so badly.

"Through the years the club has been so good to me and the time has come to for me to pay them back.

"I've achieved a lot of what I've wanted to, but I don't want to retire without having won a premiership. If I retire from rep footy I just think it will be probably be better for me and the club. But I know I will have a tough time watching State of Origin."

Timmins, 28 is equally at home in the centres or at lock forward. He has also shown himself to be a more than handy five eighth.

A powerful runner and ruthless defender, Timmins was selected to play for Australia and NSW in 2000. He suffered a leg injury in a State of Origin match and this revealed a condition which sidelined him for approximately 18 months.

"My knees feel fine at the moment and as long as I look after them they are OK, but they can get sore during the rep season and it would be a good thing not to have to deal with.

"At the Dragons we have the team to win the competition, we just haven't done it yet and we're running out of time. Winning a premiership will be my main goal from here. I love this place and there are a great bunch of guys here and it would be a great thing for a lot of people if we could win the comp.

"I'm willing to give all I have to do it. I want to play my best football for them and at this time in my career I think retiring from rep football is the best way to do it."

A Kiama High School graduate, Timmins has played 174 matches for the Steelers and the Dragons since 1994. He was presented with the club?s best player award in 2002.