Corey Oates Announces His Retirement To Robin & Kip

In a Robin & Kip exclusive, legendary winger Corey Oates has announced his retirement from footy. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:03):
You've got to finish.

Speaker 2 (00:04):
But and we were not expecting you in here this morning, Cory.
You walked in straight afternoons and said, I've got something.

Speaker 1 (00:16):
To tell you.

Speaker 2 (00:17):
So the microphone is yours, Cory.

Speaker 3 (00:21):
Well, yeah, it's actually kind of that day unfortunately. Yeah,
today I'll be me announcing my retirement from the professional league.

Speaker 1 (00:29):
So it's a it's a hard one, but you know, I.

Speaker 3 (00:34):
Guess I've known for a little while, but to actually
get to the day, it's probably a bit more emotional
and harder than what I expected.

Speaker 4 (00:44):
So what happened because we've been harassing you, it's true,
that is true throughout you know, the end of the season,
and you were really clear that you wanted to talk
to your family. When did you make this decision?

Speaker 3 (01:00):
To be honest, it was probably yeah, Yeah, for me,
it was it was pretty made up, you know, a
month ago or however long ago it was. But I
guess it was just that little last you know, five
ten percent of sure that you know, just talking to
Tea and she was yeah, the one that was kept
saying he's sure, Like yeah, you know, because she's just

(01:23):
all you've known, that's all you've done, Like it's a
pretty big decision.

Speaker 1 (01:26):
And it's going to be a lot more of you
at home.

Speaker 2 (01:28):
I'd imagine yeah about that.

Speaker 1 (01:30):
I think, yeh, she was.

Speaker 3 (01:32):
She was sick of me after me being home for
like half the time.

Speaker 1 (01:36):
I said, well, you know, it's going.

Speaker 3 (01:37):
To be home a lot more now, and I'm annoying
as it is, like you laugh.

Speaker 4 (01:42):
But was there ever a chance because everyone was blindsided
with Kevy going and we talked teaps about that with
you and you kind of felt felt really bad for him,
was there a chance with a new coach that you
might have been offered a new contract?

Speaker 2 (01:55):
Nah?

Speaker 3 (01:55):
And even if I was, it's just the last eighteen
months for me has been pretty painful.

Speaker 1 (02:04):
It's been you know, pretty what part of up and down.

Speaker 3 (02:08):
I just just trying to come back from the injuries
and the Neagles and and then getting myself up and
ready each week.

Speaker 1 (02:15):
You know, I basically get some of the boys during
the week sounding like there's no way.

Speaker 3 (02:19):
You're playing this week, and and it was just you know,
because I was I was just in that much pain
with my legs and my knees, and you know, i'd
be hobbling around and and but I just always knew
what I had to do to get myself ready for
a game every week, Like, no matter how sorry I was.

Speaker 1 (02:33):
During the week, I'd always know, I would always know I'd.

Speaker 3 (02:35):
Be, you know, pretty close to ninety per of me now,
not back I started, but you had to play, and
it was just the constant pain is Yes, it's it's
really played a big toll.

Speaker 1 (02:51):
On me and my decision.

Speaker 3 (02:52):
And yeah, like just having the kids Montian Huks and
just wanted to be a part of their life life
as much as I can when I'm older is.

Speaker 1 (03:04):
A part of the decision in the end too.

Speaker 3 (03:07):
I want to be out there, you know, playing and
playing around them, playing sports and and trying to teach
them as much as I possibly can. And you know,
if I keep playing and keep it abusing my body
the way I do when I play, I don't think
that because.

Speaker 2 (03:21):
There are some older players that are literally hoppling around.

Speaker 1 (03:23):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (03:23):
Yeah, And to be honest, I don't know if I've
if I'm going to be there or if I will
be just with you know what I've already had done.

Speaker 1 (03:31):
But I've got my faith in in Liam.

Speaker 3 (03:35):
My brother in law to your physio, He's an exos phychologist,
so he can fix me.

Speaker 1 (03:40):
I said, this is your job to fix me.

Speaker 4 (03:42):
Now, So how are you feeling? Are you proud of yourself?

Speaker 1 (03:46):
Yeah? Now, I'm actually all right.

Speaker 3 (03:48):
It's it was emoginal coming in today because obviously, yeah,
this is it, this is definitely it. But yeah, look
I'm I'm really proud of everything I've achieved. Because you
up in a small country toow Unbrella bar and playing footy.

Speaker 1 (04:04):
It was just fun.

Speaker 3 (04:05):
You know, you never ever thought you were going to,
you know, come to the big city and and play
that play the game you watched on TV. You know,
you just never thought that was ever going to be
a possibility as a kid. You always you know, I
said it yesterday to a media feather. I said, it
was funny because I remember the backyard. You commentate yourself
while you're playing against your brother or you know, your

(04:26):
Chip Chase, and you say, you know, I'm you know,
I'm down lock you you know this is down lockyer, Chip.
I just you do that, but you don't ever think
that you're going to be on that stage and and playing,
you know, against professional league players and and doing that
for a living.

Speaker 1 (04:41):
And yeah, it's been the best journey and.

Speaker 3 (04:48):
The most incredible right of my life. And I never
ever thought it was going to be a possibility. So,
you know, to play one and then to get the
turndred and sixteen games for the Bronx is yeah, something
just I never thought it was the only.

Speaker 2 (05:01):
Possible and number three all time try scorer for the Broncos,
just behind Darren Lock. You needed one more to take

Speaker 1 (05:07):
You, especially when I come through as a back rolly
really