Paul Deacon admitted that he agonised over whether or not to retire but believes he eventually made the right decision.
Scrum-half to coach at Wigan after ending glittering career
Paul Deacon admitted that he agonised over whether or not to retire but believes he has made the right decision by ending his playing days.
The 32-year-old former Bradford and Great Britain scrum-half confirmed his retirement on Tuesday and will became part of a new-look, all-British coaching staff at his home-town club Wigan.
Deacon, who joined Wigan two years ago after a 12-year spell with Bradford, has signed a three-year contract to work under new head coach Shaun Wane and his assistant Iestyn Harris.
"It was up there with one of the biggest decisions of my life but I thought about it for a long time and I believe I've come up with the right decision," Deacon said.
Deacon, who initially joined Wigan for a year before extending his deal 12 months ago, racked up 51 appearances but lost his place during the Warriors' recent play-off campaign.
"It might have been a hint from Michael Maguire. It puts a few doubts in your mind - you wonder if you are good enough - but I knew deep down it was the right time to finish," he added.
"If I'm being true to myself, I think if I had gone around another year I would have regretted it."
Honours
Deacon scored a club record 2,609 points in 326 appearances for Bradford and played in five consecutive Grand Finals for them, winning the Harry Sunderland Trophy in the 2002 defeat to St Helens.
He was also a Grand Final winner with Wigan in 2012 and helped the Warriors to a Challenge Cup triumph over Leeds earlier this season.
Deacon said: "I've had an unbelievable time. I'm very fortunate to have had the career I had before I came to Wigan.
"If I had finished my playing days two years ago I'd have been very proud of my career but to finish with two seasons at my home-town club and lift three trophies and play in a World Club Challenge, a lot of players would have taken that to finish their career on."
Now Deacon says he will have a lot to learn as he enters the next phase of his career as a coach.
"I've done a bit of coaching with the scholarship and Under-18s and 20s and enjoyed it," he said.
"I've been learning for the last five or six years when I first thought of going into coaching. I've a wealth of experience to call on but I'm starting at the bottom.
"I'm the apprentice. I've a lot to learn about the tactical side of things."
