Rhinos' Donald makes retirement U-turn

LEEDS RHINOS winger Scott Donald has performed a major U-turn by deciding to retire at the end of the season.

The ex-Manly star had signed a new extension for 2011 just two months ago but has now opted to call time on his career in order to return home to Australia and pursue a career outside of rugby in his native Queensland.

Since joining Leeds in 2006, Donald has scored 90 tries in 142 starts for the West Yorkshire club, and has featured in three Super League Grand Final successes as well as a World Club Challenge triumph.

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"The discussions have only come about in the last few weeks," explained the 30-year-old.

"A work opportunity has become available for me back home in Australia. It is something that I've had to think long and hard about but I also have to consider my young family.

"My son is just about to start school and they have had to sacrifice a lot to help me with my rugby career here at the Rhinos. It is time I looked at other options back home.

"At the time, I signed my new contract, I was fully committed to the club but things have moved quickly in the last few weeks and I need to make sure that I take the options that are available to me at present because you never know whether they will be there in the future."

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Donald insists his decision is not related to being left out of of the Carnegie Challenge Cup semi-final win over St Helens when he was dropped in favour of Lee Smith.

He returned to the side with a try in the win at Castleford last Friday and is hoping to cement his place for next Saturday's Wembley final in what will now be his last chance to lift the elusive Challenge Cup.

Donald added: "My time at the Rhinos will be at the top of the list when I think of the highlights of my career and I just hope I can help the team to finish my time at the club on a high in the coming month."

With winger Smith having unexpectedly returned from rugby union earlier this year, youngster Kallum Watkins imminently set to return form a cruciate injury and the exciting Ben Jones-Bishop returning from a season loan at Harlequins next year, Leeds coach Brian McClennan may not need to enter the transfer market to plug the gap created.

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Donald admitted: "I would hate to leave the Rhinos in the lurch if we were struggling and I thought I needed to help the club out.

"However, on the contrary, we have got great strength in depth and I know the club will just go on to get stronger and stronger in the years ahead."

McClennan added: "Scott has been an outstanding servant for Leeds Rhinos throughout his time at the club, looking after himself as an excellent professional which is demonstrated by his incredible record of fitness over the past four years.

"Scott and his family will return home to Australia with our best wishes at the end of the season and our deep gratitude however before then we have some important games which Scott will want to play a crucial role in."