Davis says his final farewell | Coffs Coast Rugby League | NRL Rugby in Coffs Coast

Brett Davis is kicking off his footy boots for good.

FOOTY season won’t be the same without Brett Davis.

After 27 seasons as a first-grade player, Uncle Brett has called ‘enough’ and while he’s retired many times before only to get the urge for one last hurrah, this time he says it’s for keeps.

“Gee, I wish I could keep playing, but my body has had enough,” he said.

“Last season I had trouble getting over the matches and was in awful pain at times, so I’ve finally realised this is it.

“You can’t go on forever even though you’d like to when you love playing as much as I do.”

Certainly one of an elite handful and arguably the greatest player to lace up a boot in the 102-year history of rugby league in these parts, Davis played in Group 2 with Smithtown Tigers, Ngaku Warriors, Kempsey Dragons, Orara Valley Axemen, Nambucca Heads Roosters, Dunghutti Broncos and finally, Coffs Harbour Comets, where the extra bonus was playing in the backline alongside eldest son, Greg.

In 1996, he captain-coached the Roosters to an extra-time premiership victory over the Axemen, ironically the club with which he’s most often associated.

Apart from the hundreds of winning first-grade matches, Davis captained his country when Australian Residents contested the Pacific Cup.

Stories about his exploits on the football field are legendary but the most unusual is the chain of events which saw him become the only ‘unofficial’ Blues State Of Origin player when coach Phil Gould asked him to sit on the bench after Tim Brasher was forced to withdraw in the warm-up.

At the moment, football is the last thing on Davis’ mind but he won’t be turning his back on the game forever.

“This year, I’ll take a total break ... then next year, I’d like to get involved again in some way,” he said.

“Maybe helping out with the rep side or as an assistant coach with the kids would be great.”