KEY POINTS:
The 18-season league career of Jason Smith, the NRL's oldest player, is finally coming to an end.
The 35-year-old North Queensland playmaker has announced he will retire at the end of the season.
Since his debut in 1990, Smith had stints with Canterbury, Parramatta, Hull (UK Super League) and Canberra before moving to the Cowboys for this season.
He won a premiership with Canterbury in 1995 and has also played 16 tests for Australia and 16 State Of Origin games for Queensland.
A 201 NRL game veteran, Smith has been a key figure in the Cowboys' strong start to the season while also being heavily involved in mentoring the club's next generation of playmakers.
