PETER Maxwell has won competitions in Brisbane, played alongside Wallabies and been on the cusp of Super Rugby, but that is second to the four years he has enjoyed with the Hawks.
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Maxwell finally called it quits at age 41 after completing a fourth straight premiership win with Hamilton on Saturday.
"Definitely some of my fondest memories have been forged here," Maxwell said after a typically wholehearted 55 minutes in the front-row in Saturday's 36-7 win over Wanderers. "I had a great time in Brisbane. I played with a lot of Wallabies - John Roe, Julian Huxley, Chris Latham, Richard Brown and more - and under a lot of great coaches. The last four years has been such a successful time in my rugby and also my life. It's funny how the two link together. It has been such a positive environment and such a good group of guys. It has been awesome."
Maxwell, who played for Wests in Brisbane, represented Queensland B and had stints in Wales and Italy, initially retired in 2017 after rupturing his biceps.
"I thought I was done but I recovered so quickly," Maxwell said. "I knew when I played that GF I was good to come back in 2018. This year I have felt my body not keeping up with my mind. I'm ready."
Maxwell's influence was not been lost on coach Scott Coleman.
"He is what we are built on," Coleman said. "He drives the culture and our leadership."
Maxwell packed in at loose head on Saturday but in the past four years has played across the front-row and at openside breakaway.
"I probably enjoyed the front-row the best," he said. "We have such a dominant scrum. As I get a bit older, i have felt my speed drop a bit and it suited me to move up front. You hold onto strength a bit longer later in life whereas you drop your speed a bit. It has been awesome but I'm totally content."
