PAUL Cullen has played his last game for Warrington.

The club captain has been forced to retire following a six year battle with a knee injury.

The inspirational 34-year-old had set his heart on a return to Super League action later this season for one last throw of the dice.

But this week he told the GUARDIAN: "I have taken advice from the best knee surgeon in the country and the knee is now beyond rehabilitation.

"My playing days are finished. The knee has beaten me and I am finding it very difficult to accept it.

"I have known this has been coming since I first suffered the injury six years ago. Since then, every game has been my last.

"I feel unfulfilled as a player. My career has been stolen from me. Having said that, I think I got more out of the game than this body should have allowed."

Cullen made a brief comeback for the Wolves A team two months ago when the club was in a deep injury crisis. He has not been able to run since.

Now his playing days are over he will direct his efforts into coaching.

He was appointed assistant to Darryl Van de Velde in April, but he says: "Coaching is no substitute for playing. I am making every tackle and running every ball while I am stood on the touchline."

And the nightmare is not over for Cullen. He now faces a knee reconstruction in order to help his mobility in the years ahead.

"I have to decide whether I can survive as a coach without having the knee reconstructed," he says.

"Coaching is hands on at all levels and a sound knee is vital. At the moment I am really struggling to do that.

"From the time the cruciate ligament snapped, the deterioration has increased in speed over the years.

"I am now struggling to get out of the car and get out of bed in the morning. I have to consider what it will be like in 20 or 30 years time."

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