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Widely regarded as one of Gold Coast's favourite sons, veteran winger Anthony Don will retire at the end of the 2021 NRL season.

Anthony Don is hoping for a final chance to return the love to the Gold Coast faithful after announcing his retirement at season's end.

A teary Don confirmed on Tuesday that 2021 would be his last season after notching 152 NRL games, finishing as the Titans' all-time leading tryscorer with 85 to his name.

While those heroics helped make him a fan favourite, the 33-year-old winger joked there was more to his appeal.

"I'm not sure why I was a cult hero, maybe because I lacked so much talent," Don said.

"I was a skinny country kid and I don't know if they saw that I tried hard and did my best or my pants were hanging down and you could see my bum-crack; I'm not sure why they got behind me but everyone has been really supportive over the years."

Don played nine years with Gold Coast, making his debut as a 25-year-old who initially thought an NRL career was beyond him.

"I finished uni as a PE teacher and went and played a season of footy in Grafton ... and I was weighing up whether I could make Queensland Cup," he said.

"To where I am now, to play 150 games and to have spent my career at the one club, I'm very proud."

He paid tribute to former Titans coach John Cartwright for plucking him from Grafton on a train-and-=trial contract and current coach Justin Holbrook, saying he had "reinvigorated" his career.

Don said his body was fine but a dip in form which saw him out of the squad since round 12 meant the writing was on the wall.

"Early in the year when I wasn't playing as good as I have been - I'm my own harshest critic - that's when I was thinking it could be my last year.

"The club is in the best position it's been in at the 10 years I've been here so it's sad to be out of the playing group when there's so much success on the doorstep."

He joked he would reach out to "Uncle Clive" (Palmer) at Southport Tigers leagues club to see if he was still splashing cash around.

Holbrook said Don wasn't far off a return to the NRL line-up but it was tough with Q-Cup on hold due to COVID-19 to press his claims.

"He's still training well and he's fit so we're not sitting here saying it's his last game," Holbrook said.

"It's a tough decision for him ... he wants to go out on top, he's a winner and he always has been."