As the evening sun descended on Boughton Oval yesterday, Mick Watton sat on the sidelines and surveyed the ground.

The 40-year-old had a content smile on his face and it was clear he was lost in thoughts of days gone by.

The moments after winning a grand final are always poignant. Even Watton, who celebrated his eighth career first grade premiership on Sunday with the Moree Boars' 32-16 victory over the Gunnedah Bulldogs, was still humbled.

But that was not what left him feeling reflective. It was the knowledge that he had played his last game of rugby league.

"I was once told by an old bloke that you never make decisions straight after a game, because there's too much emotion," Watton said.

"But I know it's getting really hard. I'm 40 years old, and the games are getting tougher an

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