After seven years in the NRL Daniel Vidot is walking away for the exact same reason he signed with Canberra in the first place: to support his family.
After stints at the Raiders, Dragons and Broncos – and with a possible World Wrestling Entertainment contract in the offing – Vidot has signed a two-year deal with Salford in the English Super League so that he continue to support his mum, stepdad and four siblings, one of whom has been diagnosed with autism.
Unable to lock down a regular place in the Broncos' NRL squad this season, the 25-year-old was also eyeing off a switch to rugby with the Queensland Reds but has instead opted to take the good money on offer under eccentric billionaire Marwan Koukash at Salford.
In a candid interview on The Locker Room podcast with former Dragons teammate Denan Kemp, Vidot describes the times as a youngster when the family were forced to seek refuge in shelters and how the sense of responsibility to his family has motivated his latest career move.
"It's a very family-based decision. Lots of people don't understand that we've got responsibilities that other people don't understand, especially with us Polynesian players," said Vidot, who has played four Tests for Samoa.
"Mine is my family. Family is everything to me and it's most important to me and it always comes first.
"There were times there when we were in the shelter; I was just brought up like that. Thinking about that stuff was motivation to me and it inspired me to do better for my family.
"To be honest, I use that as fuel to do what I'm doing today."
Vidot's autistic brother, Josh, rarely leaves the house, effectively making his mother Mabel house-bound as well.
But rather than using it as any type of excuse, the hulking winger who played 23 games for the Broncos in 2014 says it is the "fuel" that motivates him.
"Everyone has their problems but no one understands the reasons why you do what you do," said Vidot, who took the surname of his stepdad after his paternal father left him at a young age.
"I'm blessed. I don't expect any sympathy from people, everyone's got their downfalls but I look at him as a blessing and I'm a happy man to be able to provide for him and my mum.
"Money-wise, me being able to support my family is something that I've always done, ever since I started playing in Canberra.
"In our family it was a very tough upbringing, money was always an issue for us so that's the biggest factor in me making my decision to move to England, being able to support my family which is already tough as it is.
"Being able to look after them has been my life goal."
