St Helens legend Keiron Cunningham is confident the club has a bright future following his retirement from the game.
Future looks bright for club says Cunningham
St Helens legend Keiron Cunningham is confident the club has a bright future following his retirement from the game.
Cunningham was unable to achieve the dream end to his career as Saints crashed to a 22-10 defeat by arch-rivals Wigan in Saturday's Grand Final.
But 33-year-old hooker will take many happy memories with him from 17 glorious seasons and 496 appearances for the club, including five Super League titles and seven Challenge Cups.
"It is emotional finishing but times move on and I knew my career had got to come to an end sometime," he said.
"I am going to miss it. I was just sat in there [dressing room] thinking, 'That's it, it's gone - in the blink of an eye'.
"I remember my debut in '94 against Warrington and it has gone like that.
"It has been brilliant and I have enjoyed every moment of it. I have been lucky to be part of some great sides too.
Emotional
"It is emotional all round and a pity it didn't end in a different way, but fairytales aren't made in rugby league, they are made in storybooks."
The former Great Britain international remains a formidable performer but feels the time has come to make space for younger blood.
"We have got Scott Moore and James Roby, two of the best nines in the competition, not just at Saints.
"The club have got to go forward and they will get used to playing without me. I have played with some great players who we have lost in the past.
"You struggle for a few games until players start learning to play with the others but Saints have got some talented kids."
Such has been local lad Cunningham's impact at Saints that a bronze statue of him will be erected when the club move to their new ground in 2012.
He will also remain in touch having been offered a position on the backroom staff.
"I was born in St Helens," he added. "I was on the terraces. It is a dream come true just to pull the shirt on.
"I have never had ambitions to go anywhere else and I love this place."
