ozzy_ozman
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Tony Grimaldi admits his outlook on football is very different to that of your average NRL star.
While most believe in the cliche "Retire rather than play a year too long", Grimaldi's motto is "I'd rather play a year too long than retire too early."
For two years now, the Bulldogs have told Grimaldi that the cupboard is bare - that they have no money to pay him under the salary cap.
Undeterred, Grimaldi has battled on, an established first-grader yet one of the lowest paid players in the NRL.
And Grimaldi admits that without the help of his understanding parents, he would have to retire and get a "real" job.
The club thought they could get around the salary cap by offering Grimaldi some part-time welfare work looking after its young players.
But NRL salary cap auditor Ian Schubert said no, so Grimaldi has been doing the job anyway- for free.
"I'm on minimum wage but I love my footy and the training and I still feel there's petrol in the tank," the 31 year-old says of his decision to sign a new one-year deal.
"I don't want to go into the workforce just yet - I've got 30 years ahead of me to do that.
"I know I wasn't in the club's plans for next year... or this year for that matter. But they got me at a good price (laughs) and I'll keep plugging away.
"Being in this position makes you play better - you don't take anything for granted and feel you have something to prove.
"I'm lucky in that I love the training and injuries haven't been too bad for me - even though I'm the wrong side of 30, I feel I'm the fittest I've ever been."
With a wife and two children to support, Grimaldi admits he's the exact opposite to the playboy image many fans have of NRL stars.
"It isn't easy and luckily my parents help us make ends meet," he says.
"My wife is very supportive...but sometimes she also gets frustrated at the sacrifices.
"She knows it's what I want to do, though, and she is great about it."
Grimaldi has no regrets about the hours he works for the Bulldogs with no financial reward.
"I spend time looking after the young kids at the club, lecturing them and helping them adapt to the football lifestyle," he says.
"It's something they need because in this game, it can be easy to lose your way."
In a team that contains headline acts like Sonny Bill Williams and Willie Mason, Grimaldi remains a vital cog, a reliable performer with a proven big-match record.
"I'm no superstar, but I go out and give my best every week," says the hooker/ back- rower.
"I like the footballers lifestyle... there is a lot of camaraderie there.
"I am qualified to be a PE teacher so there is life after footy... but hopefully it can wait a while yet."
RLW
While most believe in the cliche "Retire rather than play a year too long", Grimaldi's motto is "I'd rather play a year too long than retire too early."
For two years now, the Bulldogs have told Grimaldi that the cupboard is bare - that they have no money to pay him under the salary cap.
Undeterred, Grimaldi has battled on, an established first-grader yet one of the lowest paid players in the NRL.
And Grimaldi admits that without the help of his understanding parents, he would have to retire and get a "real" job.
The club thought they could get around the salary cap by offering Grimaldi some part-time welfare work looking after its young players.
But NRL salary cap auditor Ian Schubert said no, so Grimaldi has been doing the job anyway- for free.
"I'm on minimum wage but I love my footy and the training and I still feel there's petrol in the tank," the 31 year-old says of his decision to sign a new one-year deal.
"I don't want to go into the workforce just yet - I've got 30 years ahead of me to do that.
"I know I wasn't in the club's plans for next year... or this year for that matter. But they got me at a good price (laughs) and I'll keep plugging away.
"Being in this position makes you play better - you don't take anything for granted and feel you have something to prove.
"I'm lucky in that I love the training and injuries haven't been too bad for me - even though I'm the wrong side of 30, I feel I'm the fittest I've ever been."
With a wife and two children to support, Grimaldi admits he's the exact opposite to the playboy image many fans have of NRL stars.
"It isn't easy and luckily my parents help us make ends meet," he says.
"My wife is very supportive...but sometimes she also gets frustrated at the sacrifices.
"She knows it's what I want to do, though, and she is great about it."
Grimaldi has no regrets about the hours he works for the Bulldogs with no financial reward.
"I spend time looking after the young kids at the club, lecturing them and helping them adapt to the football lifestyle," he says.
"It's something they need because in this game, it can be easy to lose your way."
In a team that contains headline acts like Sonny Bill Williams and Willie Mason, Grimaldi remains a vital cog, a reliable performer with a proven big-match record.
"I'm no superstar, but I go out and give my best every week," says the hooker/ back- rower.
"I like the footballers lifestyle... there is a lot of camaraderie there.
"I am qualified to be a PE teacher so there is life after footy... but hopefully it can wait a while yet."
RLW
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