St Helens hooker Keiron Cunningham has this weekend announced his retirement from international Rugby League.The news may come as a suprise to some of you in that most of you probably thought that he retired a few years ago.
Despite signing a lucrative "Club GB" contract with the Rugby Football League due to his percieved value to the Great Britain set-up, the 29-year-old has mustered just 16 caps for Great Britain after withdrawing from numerous tours and International series.
For the 2004 Tri-Nations, Cunningham opted for surgery rather than representing GB so that he could be fit in time for St Helens' start to the new Super League campaign and the Welsh international withdrew in from David Waite's GB squad in 2003.
Of the 16 caps that Cunningham did achieve, only twice was he on the winning side, the latest being a victory over a makeshift New Zealand side in what will turn out to be his last ever appearance for the Lions.
This announcement is pretty much expected even if it wasn't really needed. Cunningham for one reason or another never really tested himself against the best in the world, but seemed happy to take the plaudits at club level.
As for the future? Injuries and suspension permitting, Terry Newton is assured of the number nine jersy for the Tri-Nations whilst Salford's Malcom Alker, Wigan's Mickey Higham and Matt Diskin of Leeds will be looking to snatch the remaining seat (or seats) on the plane to Australia.
Goodbye Keiron although I doubt you'll be missed that much.
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