Dale Finucane forced to retire due to concussions as league icon Wally Lewis calls for $18 million government CTE investment
Finucane, a dual premiership-winning middle forward, announced his decision at a press conference on Tuesday, saying he was "extremely disappointed" but had little choice other than to call time on his playing career. "I am living with the constant fear and anxiety that I'll let people down. This is my reality and the reality for all those living with dementia. One thing we do know is that CTE is the only form of dementia that is preventable, and we only get one brain.
"I'm a bit numb to the feeling at the moment, it probably hasn't quite hit me because we've been going through quite a stringent process since the Tigers game." A team man until the end, Finucane did not tell his teammates he would be retiring until Tuesday morning, afraid any earlier announcement might distract from Braden Hamlin-Uele's 100 game-milestone and Samuel Stonestreet's NRL debut in round seven.Revered for his uncompromising work ethic and physicality, Finucane has been a "symbol of success" at Cronulla, coach Craig Fitzgibbon said.