Huddersfield Giants' Chris McQueen on promise of tears as he faces last opponent
Huddersfield's Chris McQueen admits he’ll be an emotional wreck on Friday - especially as he’s now retiring alongside one of his big mates.
The popular Aussie, who won the 2014 NRL Grand Final with South Sydney and represented Queensland State of Origin, rounds off his stunning career against Warrington. He’s been a huge hit with Giants, the all-action second-row scoring 34 tries in 82 appearances since joining in 2020. But veteran McQueen is ready to head home and admitted: “It’s going to be an emotional one. I have warned everyone there’s probably going to be plenty of tears.
“Nathan Peats, who I’ve played a lot of rugby league with over the last 12 years, has also today announced he’s retiring as well. We played together at (South Sydney) Rabbitohs, at (Gold Coast) Titans and again here. Then he left and came back so we’ve played a lot of footy together. I played Peatsy’s first game with him at the Rabbitohs - and now we’re playing our last games together.”
Although ex-New South Wales State of Origin hooker Peats is still only 32, McQueen is 36 although you’d never guess given the quality of his displays which suggest he could easily go on another year. But McQueen - who played once for England against Samoa in 2017 after qualifying through his London-born dad - insisted the time is right. He said: “I’m sure. It’s something I’ve been thinking about for a while. The biggest one for me is just being away from home - friends and family. It was a pretty rough year for me off-field where a few things happened at home which made me realise, there’s more to life than just playing rugby league. “Even coming into this year I felt like this was probably the way I was going to go and it’d probably be my last year. But the way things have gone on the field and off it this year, it just cemented it for me.”
That included the sudden death of former Souths Grand Final-winning team-mate Kyle Turner last month aged just 31. McQueen admitted: “Yes, we all think life will last forever. But it just doesn’t so that was a horrible situation and still is. But my parents aren’t going to be around forever so I’d like to get home with plenty of time to spend some quality time with them and everyone really: all my brothers are having kids and they’re all growing up and I’m over here missing out on that.
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“It’s just everything that life has to offer that while I'm over here I’m missing it. I’ve absolutely loved my time here and wouldn’t change anything. I don't have any regrets. But it is time.”
Huddersfield's Chris McQueen scores against Wakefield (PA)Brisbane-born McQueen won the Lance Todd Trophy as man-of-the-match in last season’s narrow Challenge Cup final loss to Wigan when Huddersfield also finished third. But Giants, who also see legendary winger Jermaine McGillvary play his final game for the club on Friday, have inexplicably misfired badly this term, knowing the highest they can now finish is eighth. Warrington, of course, need to win to make sure they claim the sixth and final play-off spot - or Salford could usurp them.
It’s hard for McQueen to put a finger on what’s gone wrong for Ian Watson’s side this term. He said: “It has been really disappointing. We had a great year last year and then recruited some great players so all expectations from inside the camp and outside were we’re going to go better.
“I came in thinking that we’ve a realistic chance of winning some silverware and what a nice way that’d be to finish. It was a weird one. I’m not too sure what happened in that middle period. We lost a few really close games against some of the bigger teams. I don’t know if there was an expectation that we’d win those games and maybe got a bit complacent. We lost them and fell into a real slump which we just couldn’t get out of. I’m not sure why but it is extremely disappointing to not even make the finals this year.”
But what about those highs? McQueen won the 2014 NRL title alongside England juggernaut Sam Burgess - who takes over as Warrington head coach in 2024 - and also made five Origin appearances. He recently chalked up his 250th career appearance and said: “As a kid growing up, they’re the two things I want to do in rugby league: win a Grand Final and represent my State. I did that.
“But even representing England, that’s something I’m really proud of. That game against Samoa in 2017 was a precursor to the World Cup and that was going to be the World Cup squad barring injury. Unfortunately, I got injured that year and missed the World Cup. That was disappointing that I didn't play in that World Cup.
“Another highlight but also a disappointment was last year’s Challenge Cup final. It was such an amazing experience and to get to be there with the Giants is something I’ll never forget.
“Winning the Lance Todd Trophy is something I’m really proud of but of course we lost the game and in such a hard fashion to concede a try with less than a couple of minutes to go.”
Huddersfield Giants' Chris McQueen (CameraSport via Getty Images)And how does he see his old Souths buddy Burgess faring as a boss? McQueen said: “I’d expect Sam to be a great coach. If he’s anything like he was as a player Warrington have something really to look forward to. I’ve been asked a lot over my career ‘who’s the best player you’ve ever played with?’ And there’s always two for me: Sam and Greg Inglis.
“If he can transition from his playing days into a coach with the same intensity and focus then I think he will do special things as a coach.”
As for what he’ll do next, McQueen said: “I’ve a few options but to be honest I just want to take some time off. I’ll do a little bit of travelling around while I’m on this side of the world and then go home. Early next year I’ll assess where I’m at and what I want to do but, for now, I just want a break.”
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