NZ Warriors centre Brayden Wiliame announces rugby league retirement at 30 years old
Brayden Wiliame, a midfielder for the NZ Warriors, has announced his retirement from rugby league at the age of 30.
The Australian joined the Warriors on a two-year contract last year but played very little in the team’s triumphant finals run.
Wiliame struggled to break into coach Andrew Webster’s center rotation, playing in just two first-grade games for the Auckland-based NRL squad and spending the most of his time in New Zealand with the NSW Cup team.
Ongoing injuries then culminated with an ankle issue sustained during an NSW Cup playoffs game that required surgery.
The New South Welshman began his NRL career with the Parramatta Eels in 2013 but played most of his first-grade rugby league with Manly Sea Eagles, where he spent two seasons and made 23 appearances in the 2015-16 seasons.
In 2017, he joined French side Catalans Dragons, playing 77 games across three seasons, before returning for a brief stint with St George Illawarra before linking with the Warriors.
He also earned nine international caps for Fiji.
“This journey has been anything but smooth but I’m grateful for every moment because it’s lead me to exactly where I’m meant to be,” said Wiliame in an Instagram post.