Tony Grimaldi
Encyclopedia
Tony Grimaldi is an Australian former professional rugby league
footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. He played for the Canterbury Bulldogs
, a club in the National Rugby League
. Despite recently announcing an extension of his contract until 2007 Tony was forced to announce his retirement from rugby league on 14 September 2006. This was due to a bulging disk in his neck causing extreme pain in his neck and down along his right arm. He had previously had two vertebrae fused exacerbating his injury and increasing the chance of permanently injurying his neck if he continued to play.
Tony's career spanned over 12 seasons primarily for the Canterbury bulldogs. Tony played at second-row forward in the 1998 NRL grand final
against the Brisbane Broncos (scoring a try), as well as the 2004 NRL grand final for the Bulldogs against Sydney City Roosters. Tony played his junior rugby league primarily as a halfback and hooker for Penshurst RSL JRLFC. He played his first game in first grade in Round 21 1995 for the St. George Dragons
against the North Queensland Cowboys. The first try he ever scored came after four seasons. It was for the Bulldogs in the 1998 NRL Grand Final.
Grimaldi also played briefly with Gateshead Thunder
and Hull in the European Super League
competition. Tony Captained Hull, due to his extensive experience in rugby league, to a final series. He then returned to the Canterbury Bulldogs
in the 2002 season. He was not a regular first grade player over the 2002-2003 season, however he worked his way back to a starting position from 2004 to 2006.
Grimaldi was criticised for comments made in a press interview regarding Andrew Johns
. Grimaldi was quoted as saying "I think you should be able to swear at the touchie if the decision's wrong." http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=122180 He later withdrew his comments attributing them to a "poor attempt at sarcastic humour." http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=122180. In his player profile, when asked what his most memorable moment from his debut was he replied: "I've had so many knocks to the head that I don't even remember what I had for breakfast." http://www.bulldogs.com.au/index2.html. Teammate Brent Sherwin
cited Grimaldi as the team's biggest pest as "He once put chillies on a sandwich he bought for me."http://www.bulldogs.com.au/index2.html. This comedic approach differed greatly from that of his serious, professional, onfield attitude
Tony is remembered as, "One of the club's workhorses, ... rock solid in defence and a sound attacker. "http://www.bulldogs.com.au/index2.html. In his last season of first grade at almost 32yrs of age he still averaged over 40 tackles per game an amazing achievement considering the physically demanding nature of rugby. He featured in the premiership winning side of 2004 for the Bulldogs. In 2005 despite not making the finals Grimaldi was the NRL top tackler "In 2005 he was the NRL leading tackler with a whopping 852 tackles and many will remember his one-on-one steal against Broncos Karmichael Hunt back in Round 20 as the Bulldogs got home with a 29-22 victory."http://www.bulldogs.com.au/index2.html
Tony captained the side on a number occasions when representative players were unavailable. Most notably was in 2004 when he captained the Bulldogs against Leeds in the Carnegie World Club Challenge. His position of choice was at lock-forward
. He will be remembered as one of the unsung hero's of rugby league avoiding the cult of celebrity and upholding the moral fabric of the game embodying its finest qualities and virtues. Tony's loyalty and long standing service to the club was rewarded with a job within the Bulldog's administration.
He is also of Italian descent and is eligible to represent the Italy national rugby league team
.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. He played for the Canterbury Bulldogs
Canterbury Bulldogs
The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Belmore, a suburb in the Canterbury-Bankstown region of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, as well as New South Wales Rugby League junior competitions...
, a club in the National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
. Despite recently announcing an extension of his contract until 2007 Tony was forced to announce his retirement from rugby league on 14 September 2006. This was due to a bulging disk in his neck causing extreme pain in his neck and down along his right arm. He had previously had two vertebrae fused exacerbating his injury and increasing the chance of permanently injurying his neck if he continued to play.
Tony's career spanned over 12 seasons primarily for the Canterbury bulldogs. Tony played at second-row forward in the 1998 NRL grand final
1998 NRL grand final
The 1998 NRL grand final was the conclusive and premiership-deciding game of the 1998 NRL season. It was the first grand final since the National Rugby League's formation and featured minor premiers and the previous year's Super League premiers, the Brisbane Broncos against the Canterbury Bulldogs,...
against the Brisbane Broncos (scoring a try), as well as the 2004 NRL grand final for the Bulldogs against Sydney City Roosters. Tony played his junior rugby league primarily as a halfback and hooker for Penshurst RSL JRLFC. He played his first game in first grade in Round 21 1995 for the St. George Dragons
St. George Dragons
The St George Dragons was an Australian Rugby league football club in St George, Sydney, New South Wales that played in Australia's top-level Rugby league competition from New South Wales Rugby Football League in 1921 until 1998; in 1999 they formed a joint venture with the Illawarra Steelers,...
against the North Queensland Cowboys. The first try he ever scored came after four seasons. It was for the Bulldogs in the 1998 NRL Grand Final.
Grimaldi also played briefly with Gateshead Thunder
Gateshead Thunder
Gateshead Thunder is a professional rugby league club based in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear in England. They currently play in the Championship 1 competition, the third tier of rugby league in the United Kingdom...
and Hull in the European Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
competition. Tony Captained Hull, due to his extensive experience in rugby league, to a final series. He then returned to the Canterbury Bulldogs
Canterbury Bulldogs
The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Belmore, a suburb in the Canterbury-Bankstown region of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, as well as New South Wales Rugby League junior competitions...
in the 2002 season. He was not a regular first grade player over the 2002-2003 season, however he worked his way back to a starting position from 2004 to 2006.
Grimaldi was criticised for comments made in a press interview regarding Andrew Johns
Andrew Johns
Andrew Gary "Joey" Johns is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s who is considered by many to be the greatest player of all time. He was heralded as the world's best halfback for a number of years...
. Grimaldi was quoted as saying "I think you should be able to swear at the touchie if the decision's wrong." http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=122180 He later withdrew his comments attributing them to a "poor attempt at sarcastic humour." http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=122180. In his player profile, when asked what his most memorable moment from his debut was he replied: "I've had so many knocks to the head that I don't even remember what I had for breakfast." http://www.bulldogs.com.au/index2.html. Teammate Brent Sherwin
Brent Sherwin
Brent Sherwin is an Australian professional rugby league player. Sherwin currently plays in the Illawarra Carlton League which is an indirect feeder league to the St George Illawarra Dragons. His position of choice is at half-back...
cited Grimaldi as the team's biggest pest as "He once put chillies on a sandwich he bought for me."http://www.bulldogs.com.au/index2.html. This comedic approach differed greatly from that of his serious, professional, onfield attitude
Tony is remembered as, "One of the club's workhorses, ... rock solid in defence and a sound attacker. "http://www.bulldogs.com.au/index2.html. In his last season of first grade at almost 32yrs of age he still averaged over 40 tackles per game an amazing achievement considering the physically demanding nature of rugby. He featured in the premiership winning side of 2004 for the Bulldogs. In 2005 despite not making the finals Grimaldi was the NRL top tackler "In 2005 he was the NRL leading tackler with a whopping 852 tackles and many will remember his one-on-one steal against Broncos Karmichael Hunt back in Round 20 as the Bulldogs got home with a 29-22 victory."http://www.bulldogs.com.au/index2.html
Tony captained the side on a number occasions when representative players were unavailable. Most notably was in 2004 when he captained the Bulldogs against Leeds in the Carnegie World Club Challenge. His position of choice was at lock-forward
Rugby league positions
A rugby league football team consists of thirteen players on the field, with four substitutes on the bench. Players are divided into two general categories: "forwards" and "backs"....
. He will be remembered as one of the unsung hero's of rugby league avoiding the cult of celebrity and upholding the moral fabric of the game embodying its finest qualities and virtues. Tony's loyalty and long standing service to the club was rewarded with a job within the Bulldog's administration.
He is also of Italian descent and is eligible to represent the Italy national rugby league team
Italy national rugby league team
The Italy national rugby league team represents Italy in international rugby league football. The team dates back from the 1950s after the formation of a domestic competition in the country, and in the 1960s they played Australia, France and a number of English teams.The game disappeared in Italy...
.
Matches played
| Team | Matches | Years |
|---|---|---|
| St George Dragons | 1 | 1995 |
| Canterbury Bulldogs Canterbury Bulldogs The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Belmore, a suburb in the Canterbury-Bankstown region of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, as well as New South Wales Rugby League junior competitions... |
120 | 1996 - 1998 & 2002 - 2006 |
| Gateshead Thunder Gateshead Thunder Gateshead Thunder is a professional rugby league club based in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear in England. They currently play in the Championship 1 competition, the third tier of rugby league in the United Kingdom... |
9 | 1999 |
| Hull | 9 | 2000–2001 |