- Christian Welch has decided to hang his boots
- Melbourne Storm veteran has a weakening back injury
The veteran of Melbourne, Christian Welch, announced his NRL withdrawal, with the star of the state of origin revealing that he required a drug cocktail to overcome the grand final of the NRL last year due to a back injury.
The former 30 -year -old Storm captain, finished his career at the NRL after 10 seasons, exceeding three LCA injuries and a broken achilles to reach 163 games.
One of his knee injuries stole the opportunity to play in the 2017 Premier League of Melbourne and was part of three large loser finals, just lifting the trophy in 2020.
He played six origin state games for Queensland between 2019 and 2021 and armed with a master's degree in commerce, also served at the Board of the Association of Rugby League players and was integral in the negotiation of his most recent salary agreement.
Welch told AAP that it was a difficult decision, but the right one to retire with a recent brain shock in the Melbourne preseason camp.
He suffered the back injury in Melbourne's preseason game in Fiji last year and fought during the season, waiting for the herniated album to heal without surgery.
The star of Melbourne Storm, Christian Welch, has been forced to retire due to a back injury
The former star of origin has fought with a series of annoying injuries.
“In the grand finale I was in quite heavy neuronal medications and was probably taking about six to eight, a true medicine cocktail to try to overcome the game,” said the support.
'It was a real struggle and probably reflected, to be honest, in that great final, and I suppose my body really fought.
'I have been taking it since last season and I hoped that maybe in the season out of season I could correct it and return quite well, but I was just going around.
“And then, in Geelong's camp, I just got a little suddenly (head) and that is also a concern, considering my story.”
In the hands of a neurosurgeon, Welch is ready to suffer a disccetomy to relieve nerve pressure on his left leg that has left him struggling to make 'quite basic life things' how to bend or wear shoes.
Upon arriving in Melbourne as an 18 -year -old, Welch said the storm had been a great part of his life.
“It has been the best moment, I know that I have had some injuries and we have lost some great finals, but it has been the greatest joy,” he said.
'And that is probably more out of the country than anything field.
Welch said he required a drug cocktail to overcome the grand final of the NRL last year
'But it probably reached a time when my body was struggling to deal with the demands of the NRL and 10 long years playing and many injuries.
“I am very happy with what I have been able to achieve and very grateful to be in this club for so long.”
Welch said he expected to continue being part of the sport in an administrative or commercial capacity, with a work of CEO of NRL part of his future long -term thought.
“I like to think that I have tried to prepare well for this moment, but it is still discouraging and, without a doubt, still quite emotionally challenging,” he said.
'I have not made this decision with something I have to go, it is more unexpected a bit unexpected.
“I will simply take my time and suppose I will be really grateful for being part of the storm and the NRL system and then, if I can find a way to stay attached and contribute, it would be really exciting for me.”
Melbourne will also be without Nelson Asof-Solomona for its inaugural match of the 2025 season. The accessory still has to fulfill a prohibition of the games after being suspended by four games last year for a high shot in Lindsay Collins.
The storm problems of lack of options in their first row will be relieved by the arrival of Stefano Utoikamanu during the summer.