He was an unsung hero in the first of Penrith’s four-straight titles.
NRL fans and fellow players are congratulating Paul Momirovski on a fantastic career after the Panthers premiership winner announced his immediate retirement on Wednesday. The 28-year-old had stints with the Wests Tigers, Melbourne Storm, Penrith Panthers and Sydney Roosters, before finishing his career with a move to Leeds Rhinos in England and FC Lézignan in France.
Momirovski wrote on social media on Wednesday: “That’s a wrap. After years of chasing this dream, it’s time to hang it up. Grateful for every team that took a chance on me, every teammate I’ve had, and all the lessons this game taught me. Thanks for the memories.”
The outside back was an unsung hero of the Panthers’ premiership team in 2021, playing 16 games and scoring six tries. He played centre in the grand final that year, helping Penrith beat South Sydney 14-12 for the first of their four-consecutive premierships.
He was also part of the Melbourne Storm squad that won the comp in 2020 after being loaned from the Tigers in a temporary swap for Harry Grant. He played six games for the Storm during their march to the premiership that year, scoring four tries.
Momirovski started his career at the Roosters in 2018, before a switch to the Tigers the following year. After stints at Melbourne and Penrith he ended up back at the Roosters in 2022, playing 22 games across the next two years.
NRL fans pay tribute to Paul Momirovski
He moved to the UK in 2024 and played for Leeds Rhinos in the Super League, before finishing his career in France where he played just three games. Former teammates and fans paid tribute to the journeyman on social media on Wednesday night after his retirement was announced.
James Tedesco, Jarome Luai, Stephen Crichton, Viliame Kikau, Latrell Mitchell, James Fisher-Harris and Jahrome Hughes were among the many to send congratulations. A Melbourne Storm fan wrote: “I want to give a shoutout to Paul Momirovski who announced his retirement. Even though it was just a season that you’ve played with us, you helped us in getting that premiership in 2020. Wish nothing but the best.”
Paul Momirovski hoping to transition into coaching
Speaking earlier this year, the 28-year-old said he’d love to return to the Roosters as a coach and learn from Trent Robinson. “I’ve always had those aspirations to get into coaching post-career,” he told TBR Rugby. “I’ve been pretty privileged to be coached by some of the game’s best over my career, so to see them operate day in, day out and obviously mix that with my own aspirations of coaching.
“For me, going back home to the Roosters would be amazing, because that would feel like home to me in that Roosters system. But like I said, having the knowledge of being under multiple different coaches is only going to help me in that transition. Obviously being under Craig Bellamy and Ivan Cleary, spent some time under Madge [Michael Maguire] and Brad Arthur, some of the game’s best right there.”