The Queensland Reds fullback announced yesterday he had taken his surgeon's advice to quit all forms of contact sport after discovering two bulging discs in his neck.

McLinden, who has suffered neck pain since rolling awkwardly in a tackle for his Brisbane rugby club Sunnybank, said it was a shock end to his 12-year professional career.

''I respect footballers in that they sometimes accept risks to their body and continue playing,'' McLinden said.

''I've gone through injuries and operations before, but never my neck. If there's a part of your body not to muck around with it's your neck.

''In the end there really wasn't a decision to be made.''

Best remembered by Raiders fans for his 'Mac Attack' halves combination with Andrew McFadden during the late 1990s, McLinden left the Raiders after seven seasons to join English league club the London Broncos in 2004.

After switching union, he played all but one match of his debut season with Queensland this year.

While he never achieved his goals in rugby league or fulfilled his potential in union, McLinden said he was proud of his career.

''My first few games playing for the Green Machine, a team I grew up loving, playing for them was my dream and making that dream come true was pretty special. Playing with guys like Laurie Daley and Ricky Stuart and playing against players like Allan Langer and Andrew Johns, you realise how lucky you've been,'' he said.

''I've had some really good games, some good wins, made the semis when [the Raiders] weren't supposed to.

''I don't think you have to win a grand final or play for Australia to look back on your career and be proud.''

Born and raised in Canberra, McLinden expects to settle in Sydney.

He said he had many and varied interests to pursue after his career.