Webcke steps down from rep footy

Veteran prop forward Shane Webcke today reluctantly announced his retirement from representative rugby league, citing a chronic knee injury as his only reason.

The Broncos stalwart, widely regarded as the best in the game for some time now, has played 18 Tests for Australia and 21 State of Origin appearances for Queensland.

Webcke, who is now 30 years of age, made it know that he was bitterly disappointed to never wear the Maroon of Queensland or the Green and Gold of Australia again, but that the decision was necessary in order to fulfil his commitments with the Broncos. He has featured in these teams for the past seven years or so, and today he had this to say: "I know this sounds like a contradiction, but I am not retiring person - I have been forced in to making this decision.

"I have a degenerating knee problem that has required surgery twice in the past six months. At the moment it is very manageable, but with the additional trauma placed on it by the heavy workload of a rep reason, I know something will give.

"Quite simply, if I did not have this injury problem, I would not be making this announcement today.

"While I am naturally disappointed that I will never pull on the Queensland or Australian jersey again, I have an obligation to the Broncos to fulfil the remainder of my contract (2005, 2006) with this club.

"I want to honour that commitment and I feel there is enough in the knee to complete the rest of those kilometres."

Webcke has played 215 first grade games for the Broncos.