Craig is as closed as an oyster about his own life and is resistant to publicity. He opens up only about his childhood years, saying, “I do remember the joy of coming to the game. I’ve been in and around first-grade dressing sheds since the age of 7. I didn’t realise how fortunate I’ve been until I started bringing my own kids to the football. They love it.” He agrees the pull of the game is akin to a great ocean tide; it churns on relentlessly, with its hold over you greater beneath the surface than above. “We’ve been around the game most of our lives. I don’t know if we know anything different.” Surely, it is to rugby league’s credit that so many play/coach their father’s game with their father’s name. Craig Fitzgibbon actually took the point-scoring record from Canberra’s David Furner who later coached the club, as did his father, Don. ‘He goes to about 15 Balmain 1969 reunions a year.’Craig Fitzgibbon’s cheeky description of his famous father Allan Other NRL combinations are the Clearys at Penrith; the Flanagans at the Dragons, the Fultons at Manly and the Arthurs at Parramatta. The NRLW has Steph Hancock, daughter of early Queensland Origin player, Rohan, as well as Millie Boyle (now Elliott), daughter of Raider, David. The Bulldogs Max King is a fourth-generation player, with father David (Titans), grandfather John (St George) and great-grandfather Cec (South Sydney). The Fitzgibbons are about to become a three-generational rugby league family with Craig’s son Aaymon - a promising five-eighth with the Illawarra Steelers SG Ball team - in demand from a number of NRL clubs. Consistent with Allan’s “advice only” involvement in Craig’s career, Craig will ensure the Fitzgibbon name will neither be a burden nor a blessing. “Aaymon has just starting to talk to a number of clubs,” he said, hinting his son will not be at Cronulla. “I’ll leave it to his manager, Dave Riolo. He did eight weeks pre-season training with St George Illawarra before going back to SG Ball. I’m not sure it’s best at his age to jump to another club.”