Rabbitohs back Matt King has confirmed he will retire from playing Rugby League at the end of the 2013 season bringing an end to a glittering club and representative career. King, who turned 33 years of age last week, made his first grade debut playing for the Melbourne Storm against the St George Illawarra Dragons at WIN Stadium in round 24 on 22 August 2003. King has gone on to play 203 first grade games to date including 91 matches for the Storm, 89 matches for the Warrington Wolves in the English Super League, and 23 NRL matches to date for the South Sydney Rabbitohs. King played in two Grand Finals for the Storm in 2006 and 2007, winning the Grand Final in the 2007 season. King also won back-to-back Challenge Cup titles with Warrington in 2009 and 2010, as well as the League Leaders trophy in 2011. King has also represented Australia on ten occasions, NSW in nine State of Origin games, Country Origin in three matches, and was selected in the ESL Exiles team in 2011. King said he hopes to continue an association with Rugby League and the Rabbitohs following this season. “First of all I would like to thank Craig Bellamy, Tony Smith and of course Michael Maguire,” King said. “They have all helped me greatly in achieving my goals over the years. “Then I would like to thank every team mate I’ve ever played with, right back to the under 7s at the Casino Cougars. “I’d also like to thank anyone that loves the game of Rugby League, because those people are the ones that make it such a privilege for us few who get the opportunity to represent them for our Clubs, our states and our countries. “And last but not least I want to thank my Mum and Dad, my brothers and sister, and most importantly my wife Kirsten and our two girls Charlie and Willow. It’s been an amazing ride and I’m glad I’ve been able to share it all with them. “In saying all of that, we still have a job to do here at the Rabbitohs for the rest of the season, and I’m looking forward to playing my role in helping us achieve the highest honours we can this year. “I will look forward to the next chapter in my life once this season is over, and hopefully I can maintain a connection with the sport I love in Rugby League, and the Club I’ve grown to love over the past two years in South Sydney.”