The Sharks are his official rugby league home, despite having played for the Raiders, Dragons and Bunnies in the past – but now, for Sharks centre Colin Best, he is contemplating retirement at the end of the 2012 NRL season, at the age of 33.
With Best and his wife Lara running their own daycare centre, they have 40 kids to look after at the Best Kidz Early Learning Centre at Alfords Point – a good reason to give footy away.
Whilst it is his wife Lara that tends to run the place, Best is still kept busy with a multitude of duties, on top of his current footballing duties.
‘‘I do a lot of the accounts and bookwork,’’ he said before flying up to Townsville.
‘‘But I’m also the main maintenance man, too. Boy, that sure keeps you busy around a centre like this one.
‘‘That’s why I’m thinking this will probably be my last season in the NRL. I’m really happy to be playing with the Sharks again, and if it is my last season then I’m hoping we can have a really successful year.
‘‘We’ve certainly got a great player roster this year, and we showed what we’re capable of by knocking over the premiers [Manly].
‘‘After 14 years in the NRL, having started with the Sharks, it might be time to retire and make way for some youngsters coming through.’’
With Best living in the shire and having kids of his own, the Best family (Colin and his wife Lara), take great pride in the centre that they own.
‘We have not had the centre for that long, but we certainly put a lot of time and effort into improvements when we took it over,’’ he said.
‘‘Lara has to take a lot of credit for the work she has put in, and our teachers are fantastic with the kids.
‘‘It gives you a lot of satisfaction just going there and seeing the smiles on the kids’ faces, and meeting and talking with their parents.’’