The 35-year-old winger on Thursday said he was grateful to St. George Illawarra for signing him in May last year and giving him another stint in the National Rugby League.

Sailor played 222 NRL matches around a five-year stint playing rugby union for Australia and for New South Wales in the Super 14 competition.

His union career ended when he was banned for two years for testing positive to cocaine after a Super 14 match for the Waratahs in 2006.

"I think everyone realizes I went through a tough couple of years there. The Dragons were great, giving me a lifeline," said Sailor, who played 33 matches for St. George in the 2008 and 2009 NRL seasons. "A 33-year-old has-been at the time. A lot of people wrote me off and, me being me, I was pretty confident I could come back and finish on the right note and I think I have.

"Redemption happened for me on and off the field."

Sailor said he could have played another season in the NRL but thought the time was right to retire now.

Dragons coach Wayne Bennett, who coached Sailor at the Brisbane Broncos earlier in his career, said the bustling winger would be remembered for his "charisma, professionalism and playing ability."

Sailor played 37 rugby union tests for the Wallabies, including the 2003 World Cup final, and 19 rugby league tests for the Kangaroos.