JJ Key has been released from his contract at Workington Town with another year to run.
Town tried to dissuade the strong-running forward from quitting the pro game but he was set on his decision to quit in one piece and concentrate on other priorities.
A post on Town’s Facebook pace said: “Although we tried to dissuade him, JJ Key has decided to retire from rugby league.
“JJ has been a joy to have at the club and has been a valuable team-mate and member of our squad. A consistently great performer on the pitch and a top bloke off it.
“JJ will always be welcome back at any time and we wish him luck and thank him for his time in the blue and white.”
Key might have been mindful of his grandfather Andy, a member of the 1950s side who suffered a serious injury playing at Wembley which virtually ended his career.
His father Gary was also a talented footballer with Workington Reds A team when he suffered a bad ankle injury. JJ quickly made a decision to concentrate on his golf, becoming a professional, and leaving his football career behind him.
JJ took to his Instagram to explain his decision saying: “At the end of the 2024 season I made the decision to retire from rugby league at the age of 28. This may sound too young to retire but for me it was the right time to get out relatively unscathed.
“The season previously I had torn my pec and then when I was getting back into training my hamstring went so I had a pretty disappointing season personally.
“Fast forward to this year and I probably played some of my best RL with only a couple, of niggles, but nothing that stopped me playing.
“I had signed a two-year contract with Workington Town before the start of the 2024 season so it would have been nice to keep the momentum going and see out my contract.
“But there is so much I want to do outside of rugby in the world of fitness. I don’t want to risk my body and potentially pick up an injury that could end my career and stop me doing all the things that I want to do outside of rugby.
“So I asked to be released and while I miss the feeling of playing, the feeling of winning and the craic with the lads for nine months of the year I won’t miss having no weekends spending hours and hours on a bus travelling, being limited to when you can go on holiday and missing out on valuable time with family that you can’t get back.
“That’s without mentioning waking up on a Monday morning feeling like you’ve been hit by a bus.
“I want to start the working week feeling well rested and recharged and have weekends to do my own training and enjoy it with family.
“I have loved rugby and played it since as long as I can remember but it’s time to move on to the next chapter.
“Got a big 2025 planned with more HYROX, more golf, Manchester Marathon, the Lakesman, Iron Man Barcelona and obviously ETL performance page.
“I genuinely want to help people get the most out of their training whatever their goals may be. So yeah bring on 2025.”
JJ was also a hugely respected second-row forward with Penrith rugby union club before switching to rugby league with Seaton Rangers, and then to Workington Town.
