Wembley injury forces O’Meley to hang up his boots at Hull

HULL FC coach Peter Gentle has spoken of the “legacy” Mark O’Meley leaves at the club after the stellar prop’s enforced retirement.

The Australian was due to call time on his distinguished career at the end of the season but, frustratingly, had to announce yesterday it has been brought forward due to knee ligament damage.

O’Meley, 32, suffered the injury in the Challenge Cup final defeat against Wigan last month and scans have since revealed he would be unable to play any part in the forthcoming play-offs.

Given the impact he has had, particularly this year, it is a major loss for Hull’s hopes of making a bid for Old Trafford.

But Gentle said: “I am more disappointed that Mark doesn’t get to go out on his terms. We are going to miss him because he was playing some good footy and was a rock in the middle for us.

“Unfortunately in this game you don’t get to pick and choose when you get your injuries.

“I think the game maybe deserved to let him go out on his terms, but Ben Galea has suffered the same fate. He knew this was his last year and to finish at Wembley is not a bad thing. He’s ticked a lot of boxes in his career and is respected on both sides of the world, he’s had a wonderful career. His knowledge and experience is invaluable to our young forwards and Mark will leave a legacy. I’ll be disappointed if he isn’t thought of in that way; I’m sure he’ll leave one.”

O’Meley, a robust and aggressive front-row, won 15 caps for Australia having also represented New South Wales in the State of Origin on 10 occasions before moving to England.

He joined Hull from Sydney Roosters ahead of the 2010 season, arriving in East Yorkshire at the same time as his good friend and club colleague Craig Fitzgibbon.

Undeniably, his vast experience and professionalism has rubbed off on many of the Airlie Birds’ youngsters, including fellow front-rows Chris Green and Josh Bowden who have made great strides this term.

O’Meley won an NRL title with Canterbury Bulldogs in 2004 and made 90 appearances for the Black and Whites, scoring 13 tries.

“It’s a premature ending but it’s good to be able to say my last game was at Wembley in a big final with a good bunch of guys and all the Hull fans behind us,” he said. “It’s a bit saddening and I wouldn’t have minded having a couple of last hit-outs with the boys before retiring at the end of the season. But everybody has made me feel welcome, the supporters have been awesome, the club’s been tremendous and I’ve made really good friends here.

“I’ve had a lot of blokes getting in touch talking about retirement and how you deal with it.

“It will be a bit difficult but there’s a time when everybody has to stop doing what they love.

“I’ve done it since I was 15 and now I’m at an age where I’ve got to find the next chapter in my life and I’m pretty comfortable with doing that.”

Ahead of that Wembley date, O’Meley told the Yorkshire Post that he is looking to buy a farm near his childhood home in New South Wales and has no intention of going into coaching.

Yesterday he added: “I’ve got two kids who love the game and are very passionate about rugby.

“So, I’ll never become one of those old players bitter about the way the sport is or current players making more money from it. I want to be grateful for the game that’s given me everything I’ve got and rewarded me the way it did.

“It was disappointing that we didn’t win at Wembley but it’s still given me a taste of that and I count myself pretty fortunate and lucky to have had that experience, as well as playing for my country and for New South Wales, and winning the NRL Grand Final.”

Galea, 34, was another FC player due to retire at the end of the season but he had to finish in July after tearing a pectoral muscle. O’Meley’s retirement now leaves Gentle further short of forward options.

They will confirm fifth spot if they defeat visitors St Helens tomorrow night.

Hooker Aaron Heremaia is back from suspension but prop Andy Lynch (knee), second-row Gareth Ellis (ribs) and centre Ben Crooks (shoulder) are all still missing.