Broncos winger Jordan Pereira has announced his retirement from the game effective immediately due to a neck injury.

The 31-year-old sustained nerve damage to his neck last month playing for Broncos Affiliate Souths Logan Magpies in the Hostplus Cup which has impacted strength in his right arm.

Doctors and specialists have drawn a line on Pereira’s career by deeming it too much of a risk for him to play on – the talented winger finishing with 45 NRL appearances for 14 tries, and 135 games at Cup level in Queensland and NSW scoring 79 tries.

The hard-running, tackle-busting finisher started with the Mackay Cutters in 2015 before earning an NRL contract with the Dragons and making his NRL debut in Round 19, 2018, scoring a try in a win over the Cowboys that saw him keep his spot in the team all the way through to the second week of the finals.

Pereira signed with the Broncos in 2022 and made his debut in Round 14, crossing for a try in a 24-18 win over the Raiders at Suncorp Stadium. He would go on to play another four games for the Broncos that year. His single NRL appearance for Brisbane last year was a two-try effort in the final round game against the Storm at Suncorp.

Pereira said: “It’s been recommended by the doctors and specialists that it’s not safe for me to continue playing rugby league which is really unfortunate because I love the game and I love being here at the Broncos.

“Timing hasn’t been on my side because there has been some opportunity through injury and rep footy that I may have been a chance to play some more NRL but instead it’s time for me to reflect on how much I have enjoyed playing this game and how much the game has given to me.

It’s something that I’ll definitely miss but it’s something that I will hold onto forever and reflect back on with pride and joy.

Jordan Pereira

”I’ve had a really good relationship with Kevvie from the time that I got here and in that first year I earned a fair bit of trust from him but unfortunately for me there was a ridiculous amount of talent in those outside back positions.

“But I completely understood where I sat in the squad and that was to turn up to training, work hard and be ready if called on when I was needed – I understood my role and that allowed me to not kick stones but really enjoy my time here at the Broncos.

“To help the young players develop and grow and succeed has been something that I’ve taken a lot of joy out of – guys like Ben Te Kura and Blake Mozer, right from when they came through the Broncos system to debut for Souths Logan and then debut and play NRL, it was great to be their teammate through that journey.

“I came to rugby league and spent three years as a part-time player with the Mackay Cutters before I got my break in the NRL and I was lucky enough to play outside Tautau Moga who was a great mentor for me and took a lot of time to teach me the game from the ground up.

“That mentorship was really important for me… so it was only right for me when I became an NRL player to pay it forward and do for others what was done for me – it helps the great coaching staff that we have at the Broncos to develop our young talent.

“And then as part of the Mustangs, it was really important for us to push the first grade and bring out the best in them at training when we oppose them – that Grand Final year we gave them a competitive run every single training session and I felt like that played a big part in that success.”

Broncos Coach Kevin Walters paid tribute to Pereira: “Jordan has had to work hard to get everything he has got in rugby league and that has made him a really valuable member of our team during his time at the Broncos.

“He is someone who you want to have around your club, he helps to mentor the young players coming through and pass on those lessons that you should take nothing for granted.

“He has always played his role and worked hard on his game and always been one of our most consistent performers in Cup – and when we have called on him in first grade, he has never let us down.

Jordan has always done the Broncos jersey proud – he’s Broncos No.281 and he will always have a place at our club.

Kevin Walters Broncos Head Coach

Pereira said while he was disappointed to have to draw a line on his playing career, he had many highlights to take with him into retirement.

“That first phone call I got when I got offered my first NRL contract was so special… I remember just breaking down and crying with my partner and now wife, and my roommate at the time who’s also my best mate – I just couldn’t believe that at 23-years-of-age I’d done it and was part of the conversation for the NRL.

“Fast forward a year from that and I got an NRL debut. We used to drive past Suncorp Stadium and I thought that I would never play there but life works in funny ways. It was so surreal for me to be given a go because I was never the player at high school who was going to make it, I never made any rep teams growing up but at 24-years-old I got to debut in the NRL.

“And now at 31 I get to retire and reflect on some fantastic memories and amazing people that I’ve been able to connect with.

“If I could thank anyone it would be my wife Sarah who has supported me for the whole journey – what the partners do for every single footballer is a great sacrifice and they’ve got to roll with the punches and they deal with the ups and the downs and have to move with you when you move.

“Also my coach up at the Mackay Cutters, Kim Williams, who was the first person to see the potential in me as a rugby league player that even I didn’t see – he proved me wrong and he was the first person I called when I got a shot at the NRL.

“All the people at the Dragons, in particular Paul McGregor who chose to give me a shot and then keep me in the side, and of course the Broncos – Kevvie, all the coaching staff and Darius Boyd who understands the role of winger… he’s been in those shoes before and understands.

“And finally I’d like to thank all my teammates, when you’re a winger there’s not much you can do without your teammates… every single player who’s put me over for a try – thank you.”