Chad Townsend, a celebrated figure in Australian rugby league, has announced his retirement, potentially marking his last game played this month against his junior club, the Cronulla Sharks. The announcement came as a shock to the Roosters and their supporters as Townsend told his teammates on Tuesday that he would not be re-signing past this season. His heartfelt announcement included a poignant video where he shared the news with his children, expressing a mix of emotions.
In the emotional clip, Townsend couldn’t keep it together as he broke the news to his children. He went on to clarify, “You know how daddy plays football? Well, daddy’s not… daddy’s not playing football no more.” But then his son answered optimistically, “Dad, you might still be able to play footy.” Townsend’s decision is personally consequential in a deep way. He articulated a very sincere wish to be able to spend more time with his family.
Townsend has had a long career, playing 268 NRL games since first debuting for the Cronulla Sharks in 2011. He was instrumental in leading the Sharks to their inaugural NRL premiership in 2016, breaking a 50-year premiership drought. Just last season too, he was the catalyst that propelled the North Queensland Cowboys to a remarkable run to the preliminary finals. This year, he did with the Roosters, proving it all over again in the first month of the season. Just two weeks ago, he made his second comeback of sorts, albeit very briefly.
Looking back on his incredible journey, Townsend explained, “To put it in words, I think it’s impossible to put into words what this game has done for me. In doing so, he remembered the happiness and satisfaction that rugby league has given him. As he once said, “The game didn’t owe me nothing, but it gave me everything.” As he prepares to transition from professional athlete to retiree, he expressed gratitude for his experiences and excitement for future endeavors.
Townsend will now turn to telling stories of the future, spending more time with his wife Marissa and their children. The reason, he said, was “Because it’s time for daddy to spend time with you all.” He places a premium on family time, but he’s got some thrilling opportunities on the horizon, too. After spending more than a decade mastering his current discipline, he’ll switch to golf.
