Titans winger Anthony Don has paid tribute to his former teammate Kane Elgey, lauding his great friend’s courage for walking away from the NRL at age 25.
Elgey, who played 46 games for the Titans between 2015 and 2018, stunned the league when he announced on his Instagram page that he was walking out on the final year of his contract with Manly to retire and return to the Gold Coast after losing his passion for the game.
“After months of consideration I have decided to officially retire from the NRL and move back home with my beautiful girl … and start the next chapter of our lives,” Elgey’s post read.
“It’s been a roller coaster ride and I’m stoked with what I’ve achieved in a short time!
“I just know deep down I don’t love it like I use to and when you lose that it’s very hard to keep doing it at a high level.
“Thanks to everyone that I have met on the ride and who has supported me … love yahs.”
Don said he was not surprised by Elgey’s decision, and was glad his friend had made the “brave” call to walk away from playing if he was no longer enjoying it.
“I have been talking to Kane through the whole season, so I kind of knew where his head was at,” Don said. “I didn’t suspect it, but from talking with him during the year, it wasn’t a huge surprise.
“He has had a great career, even though it was short-lived. He was a great player for us at the Titans. He had one of the best long-balls in the competition, and I was lucky enough to be on the end of a few of them. He is a great mate, and we will stay close for the rest of our lives.
“It is a brave decision. He could have stayed there and earned good money playing with Manly for another season. But he has decided it is not what he wants to do.
“Just because everyone thinks that being an NRL player is a dream job, doesn’t mean it is the dream job for Kane.
“He has fallen out of love with the game. When you are full-time, and it is all you do, that can happen. Whatever you do, you have to enjoy it, because when you don’t it become a bit of a drag.
“He would be content with his decision, and I look forward to catching up with him.”
From everyone at the Gold Coast Titans, we congratulate Kane on his career and wish him all the very best in the future.
