Requiring a cocktail of drugs to get through last year's NRL grand final and now struggling even to put on his shoes, ...

Storm prop Christian Welch has opened up on the debilitating back injury that forced him into medical retirement with two years remaining on his Melbourne contract.

Queensland State of Origin player and NRL premiership winner Christian Welch retires from professional rugby league.

Christian Welch has announced his retirement from the NRL, with the State of Origin star revealing he required a cocktail of drugs to get through last year's NRL grand final.