Canterbury captain Andrew Ryan announced on Monday he will retire from rugby league at the end of the current NRL season.
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The 32-year-old admitted he was disappointed at the sacking of Kevin Moore as coach last month, but denied that was a deciding factor or that he was forced out of the club.
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After 286 first grade games over 12 seasons - 219 games with the Bulldogs - Ryan said he knew the time was right to call it quits from the game altogether.
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Ryan said he talked at length with his wife and long-term friend and team-mate Michael Hodgson and decided to turn down offers from the English Super League, and will take up an education and welfare role with the NRL.
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The former NSW and Australian Test representative said his body was telling him enough was enough.
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"The last month, the season was going by and you get a good gauge of how your body and how your mind is feeling through that middle part of the season," said Ryan, who described leading the Bulldogs to the 2004 premiership as a career highlight.
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"Just then I tried to chase my three year-old out in the hallway and I couldn't catch her so I might just retire now."
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Ryan was adamant Canterbury didn't force his hand.
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"Realistically, I was ready to retire and that's the decision I've made and I'm very happy with that decision," he said.
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"It wasn't great to see Kevin depart but it was my personal decision and a decision for my family so that had no real impact.
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"(England) was an option, I did think about it but … mentally and physically, I suppose it was time.
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"I've been in the NRL for 12 seasons now and probably not getting any quicker at this stage of my career, and if I wasn't 100 per cent right to go overseas and play next year (I wasn't going to do it).
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"The opportunity to work in the NRL in something I'm very passionate about certainly outweighed all those factors."
source: nrl.com
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