But now the 40-year-old is determined to experience just as big a high by steering rugby league into a strong and healthy future.
Hicks (above) has taken over as the RFL's Director of Operations and Legal.
He said: "It is a bit like weaning yourself off a drug. Refereeing at that level is all-consuming.
"I won't miss that part but I will miss the adrenaline rush, the banter and the emotional roller-coaster that you go on throughout the year."
Denne historien er fra January 09, 2022-utgaven av The Sunday Mirror.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra January 09, 2022-utgaven av The Sunday Mirror.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Zeezy does it
FEMI LAST-GASP\LEVELLER,DENIES CATS
Leading an Art Lesson
GUNNERS TURN ON THE STYLE TO SNAP MISERABLE RUN
ODETO A GENIUS
Gunners skipper is poetry in motion inspiring classic win
'WE CAN'T RELY ON KIDS TO STAY IN THIS LEAGUE'
TAYLOR HARWOOD-BELLIS and Tyler Dibling are stars in the making.
BELLAMY'S TRIUMPH SHINES A LIGHT ON FA'S PRICEY GAMBLE
CRAIG BELLAMY'S annual salary as Wales manager is not widely known, but most estimates have it around the £500,000 mark.
Why I blame baby talc for my cancer
Brit suing US giant over asbestos link tells how her health fell apart
The tip of climate change
Coastal landslips expose old rubbish dumps to sea
Chaos reigns at Cop29 as nations walk over finance
COP29 collapsed into chaos yesterday with delegates from several countries walking out on the climate change talks.
You can earn more working for IKEA than in social care ... Labour wants to fix that
A FAIR pay deal for care staff will help fix our creaking NHS, Angela Rayner says.
Denzel swaps $8,000 booze sessions for Training Days
DENZEL Washington says he is getting back in shape after spending years downing wine and sometimes knocking back $8,000-worth in a day.
