Jake trains for life after footy
HE doesn’t start pre- season training until Monday, but Cowboys hooker Jake Granville is still putting in the hard yards in the closing stages of a carpentry apprenticeship he hopes will help set him up for life after football.
While it’s assumed most NRL stars have downed tools over the off- season, the 28year- old has put the time to good use.
The hooker has five training modules to complete before he finishes his apprenticeship with Martin Locke Homes and said it had been a welcome outlet from the day- to- day grind of elite football.
“Before I started playing at the Broncos ( before joining North Queensland) I was at Wynnum and did that as my job,” Granville said.
“I did my apprenticeship for about three years but it got put on the backburner. I spoke to Lockie ( Locke) one day and told him I was pretty keen to get it done.
“You have to think about life after footy.
“It’s something I enjoy and it’s good tools.”
Granville often rises at 5am for work and spent three days this week on assignment in Ayr working 12- hour days.
“It’s a good way to take your mind off things and not think about footy 24/ 7,’’ he said.
Locke played 71 first grade games himself, including 54 at the Cowboys, and understands the challenge of juggling work with football. He is involved to be back on the with a group of local businesspeople dubbed the Stockmen, who offer Cowboys players advice or opportunities.
“I remember working one Saturday morning and playing that night when I first played with South Queensland Crushers, but you can’t do that any more,” Locke said.
“It’s hard to do these days, pro football is all consuming so credit to Jake for wanting to finish his apprenticeship.”