The Parramatta Eels forward has announced his retirement.
“It may not be the ending I would have liked, but truth is, I lived my fairytale for five years.”
Andrew Davey, a forward with the Parramatta Eels, has announced his retirement from rugby league following five seasons in the NRL.
Davey’s departure from the game came after medical professionals advised him to put up his boots.
After making his NRL debut with the Parramatta Eels in 2020, he would play 44 games for the Eels, Manly Sea Eagles, and Canterbury Bulldogs over the next four years.
He returned to the Eels as a mid-season transfer in Round 10 of 2023, but only played in 12 games due to two concussions.
His career also included winning the Mackay Cutters Rookie of the Year Award in 2016, playing in the 2019 NSW Cup Grand Final and becoming the fourth-oldest debutant in the NRL era at 28 years and 233 days old.
“For a battler from Central Queensland who wasn’t supposed to play one game of NRL, this career has plenty for me to be proud of,” Davey said in a statement.
“It may not be the ending I would have liked, but truth is, I lived my fairytale for five years.
“I’d like to thank the Parramatta Eels admin staff, the medical team and all coaches at the club, the genuine care and support I received throughout this process is greatly appreciated and I couldn’t ask for better treatment in making this decision.
“I’m extremely grateful to have such supportive family and friends and I’m also proud of the lifelong friendships I made during my time in the NRL.”
With Davey’s retirement, the Bulldogs are expected to gain some relief from the NRL, given that they are paying a portion of his contract at the Eels after his surprising mid-season departure.
Mark O’Neill, General Manager of Football of the Parramatta Eels, remarked on Davey’s departure and wished him well in the future.
“Andrew has always had a great work ethic, his desire and drive to make it in the NRL is admirable,” O’Neill said in a statement.
“He has set himself up for success outside of football and we wish him all the best for his future.”
