Josh Griffin announced his retirement from the sport at the start of the month and the Super League veteran has now lifted the lid on that decision, whilst also revealing what is next to come in his career.
After debuting in 2008, Griffin went on to make 244 Super League appearances with the last of those coming for York Knights back in April when he unfortunately suffered a ruptured pec.
That injury ultimately dictated Griffin’s decision to retire with the 36-year-old speaking on BBC Radio Leeds about the decision, revealing that it was taken out of his hands on account of that injury.
“It ended up being taken out of my hands, to be fair (because of) my injury and the length of it,” Griffin admitted.
“I was always planning on probably retiring at the end of the season anyway, and with my injury it just took me past that point. It wasn’t an overnight decision, a couple of weeks umming and ahhing about it but ultimately I just wanted a bit of closure and I can put it to bed and move on.”
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Why it was time for Super League veteran to hang up the boots
Having now made the decision, Griffin admitted that he’s still adapting to life away from Super League, which is understandable given the fact he’s played professionally for the best part of 20 years.
Griffin said: “It’s still taking some getting used to, I’ll be honest. I’m missing the routine and going to training every day and doing that, but I’m still doing my rehab, I’m still working and trying to get my injury back. That’s my main kind of goal at the moment.
“I’m missing being around the lads a little bit and it is taking some getting used to.”
He also conceded that he technically could have returned with a full rehab that went well, however, the mental strain of that and the possibility of it going awry effectively forced his hand to retire.
Griffin admitted: “I’ve not gone out the way I wanted to go but the length if my injury, the four months, would have literally taken me to the last game of the season if I really pushed myself and really tried.
“The mental challenge of coming back from an injury of this magnitude is tough and a grind. If something goes wrong and you get a set back then it’s taken out of my hands.
“For me, it was that I could still take control of it and end on my terms. Obviously, I didn’t want to retire, I wanted to finish the season, but it was a kind of a way for me to go ‘let’s put a stop to this’ because I was at home and it was on my mind.”
Josh Griffin reveals future plans
Whilst he’s out of the game from a playing perspective, Griffin looks set to continue in the sport with the Super League veteran revealing his post-playing plans.
“I’m hopefully going to still be involved in the game,” he said.
“I’ve worked hard alongside my playing career to go to university, I’m currently studying for my Masters in Strength and Conditioning so I’m hopeful and I believe I’ll still be part of the York environment next year in their Strength and Conditioning department.
“I’m not over with the game yet. I still think I’ve got a lot to give in that regard but my playing days are over.”
As for how he’d like fans to remember him, he simply said: “Every time I pull this shirt on, I try to give my best. Sometimes I got it wrong.
“You mentioned that word emotion earlier. Sometimes I probably played with too many emotions but I always wore my heart on my sleeve and probably tried to always give my best for every team I played for.”
