Glasby retires: Epitome of hard worker hangs up boots

Headaches, sensitivity to the light and noise, motion sickness.

Knights forward Tim Glasby kept suffering these kinds of concussion symptoms but they were hanging around months after his last head knock and not just in the immediate weeks.

That was the signal that proved to the he 31-year-old premiership-winner and State of Origin forward that his NRL career was over.

"It would go away but then I'd over-extend mentally or physically and it would all come back - and come back bad," Glasby said. "It was just no good."

He said he couldn't remember how many head knocks he has had over his career but that the way concussions are treated is better than ever.

The NRL now has several medical "eyes" on games and players can be required to take a 15-minute head injury assessment before allowed back on the field.

Glasby said that in the short-term the doctors had told him his symptoms would clear. "And they have," he said. 

The former Queensland representative said he wanted to remain involved in the sport - coaching or developing players - as he picked up his former role as a financial planner.

Glasby has only played seven games in 2020 since being sidelined in June. It's his second season with the Knights after six years with Storm, including the 2017 premiership.

Glasby finishes his career with 138 NRL games (110 Storm, 28 Knights) and five Origin appearances for the Maroons.

He only debuted in 2013 but in a relatively short career he made his mark.

"I’ve had a lot of time to sit back and reflect on my career and I am truly grateful for everything the game has given me.

"If you had told me when I first signed with the Storm, I would go on to win a premiership and run out for Queensland in State of Origin, I would’ve thought you were joking."

"Tim Glasby typifies exactly what hard work and determination can get you in life," Knights coach Adam O’Brien said. 

"All of his success at club and representative level has come on the back of hard work.

"It was really concerning for me considering the symptoms were coming back even if Tim was just spending time with his kids watching telly, or doing a weights session," O'Brien said.

"I've known Tim and his wife Casey a long time.

"His number one job on this earth is to be a good father and a good husband, and footy player third."

Glasby first entered a professional system in 2008 when he signed with Penrith to play in the NYC.

After two seasons he returned to Queensland where he played Intrust Super Cup for the Capras, who he captained in 2012.

The following year he joined Melbourne where he became a representative player after debuting for the Maroons in 2017.