Former rugby league star Owen Craigie says the decision to walk away from a lucrative sporting career to confront his personal demons saved his life.

In 2006, the former Newcastle, South Sydney and Wests Tigers playmaker quit the game after battling suicidal thoughts, a drinking problem and a corrosive gambling habit.

But he says walking away after hitting “rock bottom” ultimately saved his life.

“I was contemplating suicide. I thought `I’ve got to retire … Owen Craigie needs to recover and get himself right’,” he said.

“I had to throw away something I really loved and enjoyed, for me to survive.”

Craigie, described by rugby league Immortal Andrew Johns as the most naturally talented player he’d lined up alongside, said he couldn’t handle the perks of a fledging sporting career when he moved to Newcastle as an indigenous teenager.

“I bought my first house at 17 … I had my car before I had my learners licence sitting in the driveway,” he told radio station Triple M.

But as his professional success continued – he won a grand final with the Knights at 18 – his off-field fortunes began to turn.

While still a teen, he developed a gambling problem and blew more than $1 million dollars.

He once lost $15,000 on a roulette table within a half hour.

“There’s not a pub or TAB I didn’t gamble at in Newcastle,” he said.

The `train hard, play hard, drink hard’ mentality of life at an NRL club made it harder to resist his vices.

After falling out with Newcastle coach Warren Ryan in 1999 he joined the Tigers where he spent two years before linking up with Souths where he lasted until 2004 before being cut by the club.

A move to the English Super League failed to arrest his slide, with coach Frank Endacott branding him a “huge disappointment” after his weight ballooned to 111kg.

Less than halfway through his Widnes Vikings contract, Craigie quit rugby league, aged 27.

Craigie says he is now at peace with himself and works as a gambling counsellor with Mission Australia.

Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14