NRL Veteran Ian Henderson Announces Retirement

Ian Henderson gets a pass away for the Roosters Photo: Getty Images 

After 281 rugby league games and eight tests for Scotland, veteran Ian Henderson has informed the Sydney Roosters that due to a chronic leg injury he has been forced to retire.

The 33-year-old hooker had rejuvenated his career in the English Super League before returning to the Roosters for another NRL season.

“The average NRL career is under two seasons. I was happy to have this opportunity and feeling good,” said Henderson on www.foxsports.com.au.

Henderson still remembers making his NRL debut for the Roosters in 2003 under coach Ricky Stuart.

"I was 19. I started and played well. One of the people in the sheds came up to me and said ‘mate you’ve made it’ and I believed it," he said.

"I got brought back to earth pretty quickly. I got dropped round four and didn’t play for god knows how long after that."

While Parra fans will remember his ill-fated stint in the Blue & Gold, which lasted one minute against the Sharks in 2005.

"I played one game there and got knocked out. A lot of the boys are quick to remind me that I got knocked out off the kick-off," he said.

“David Simmons leapt over me to catch a ball and kneed me in the jaw. There’s a photo online right of the point of impact. I was out for a couple of minutes. That was my Parra days gone."