Rugby League: Penrith star Ryan Girdler to retire

A lung infection has convinced Penrith star Ryan Girdler that his NRL career has finally run out of puff.

Girdler, 31, yesterday announced he would retire at the end of this season, saying a recent bout of pleurisy had sounded alarm bells for his fatigued body.

"The illness [pleurisy] knocked me around a little bit and although the body has bounced back, obviously it's taken a while," said Girdler, who will join team-mate Martin Lang in hanging up the boots at the end of this campaign.

Penrith coach John Lang said the NRL defending champions would strive to send out his son Martin and Girdler as winners.