Panthers prop and former New Zealand international Sam McKendry has announced his retirement at the age of 30, bowing out of the NRL as a one-club player.
McKendry made his first grade debut in 2008 with Penrith and last played in the NRL in 2018, finishing with 147 NRL appearances and eight Test appearances to his name.
"In 2007 I left my family back home in New Zealand and made the move to Penrith with a dream to play NRL," McKendry wrote on Instagram. "I've spent the last 13 years with the [the Panthers] doing what I love as a job and got to live out my dream.
"My career didn't end as I planned due to consecutive ACL injuries but I never let injury force me into medical retirement and fought back each time to retire on my own terms. It's been one hell of a journey and it wasn't always easy but I wouldn't change a thing."
Although McKendry's NRL days are up he will line up for St Marys Rugby League Club in 2020.
