Fan favourite Frank Pritchard has brought down the curtain on his 15-year NRL career despite having a contract from Parramatta on the table for season 2018.

After a 280-game career which included stints with Penrith, Canterbury, English Super League club Hull FC and one year with the Eels, the 34-year-old has elected to hang up the boots.

It’s understood he informed the Eels that he felt it was the right time to step down and told the club they were better off offering a place in the squad to a younger player.