You couldn't begrudge Nathan Hindmarsh a break. After playing almost 30 games this year, racking up more than a thousand tackles and making more runs than Bradman, if anyone deserves a spell, it is Hindmarsh. So what does the hardest-working man in the NRL do when he can finally put those arthritic feet up?

He heads to the family farm in Robertson in the Southern Highlands. But if you think it's to milk a cow, catch up with the family or to hang around his home town, you couldn't be more wrong.

"We're dropping the brats off [with the family] and getting out of here," Hindmarsh grinned, referring to tiny tots Archie and Buster.

"[Partner] Bonnie and I are getting away to Thailand for her 30th."

Some NRL players use the off-season to go right off. Nate Myles went to Oktoberfest, while it's probably best that whatever happened on Paul Gallen's and Greg Bird's tour of Las Vegas remains on tour. But for Hindmarsh, there are two main objectives on their holiday to Koh Samui.

"The plan is to get over there and then it's just sleep and room service, that's about it," he said.

It's no wonder the Eels forward has gone into hibernation mode. No athlete in world sport does it tougher than a rugby league forward. When it comes to sheer impact, scientists liken the collision of two 100kg forwards to that of a car crash. To put it into perspective, NASA pilots pass out when they are exposed to G-forces beyond about nine or 10G. NRL forwards, who sometimes cart the ball up as many as 25 times a game, can push the 11G mark when they smash into each other.

That's why this time of year is so valuable. For about two months, it's about Zs instead of Gs. There are no matches. No collisions, at least not on the field. Sadistic trainers are not yet allowed to unleash their implements of torture, sand hills and body-fat calipers. It's time for a total mental and physical break from the seemingly endless grind of football.

No wonder Hindmarsh is having fun. The 28-year-old took the chance to move into a new house. Built a fence around it to stop his dogs from running amok. And, on the odd occasion, let down that Beatles-style hair of his. Like the time he went to Michael Vella's bucks party or his big night out at the ARIAs.

"All I know is Mick didn't back up for Saturday night and that's very unlike him," Hindmarsh said. "The ARIAs was one of the most enjoyable nights out I've had out in a long time.

"We met the boys from Silverchair, got a photo with Natalie Bassingthwaighte, that was a bit of a highlight.

"I hung out with Rodney Rude and Billy Birmingham. It turns out Billy Birmingham does a pretty good Rodney Rude [impression]. We were a little bit star struck."

Hindmarsh was also set to walk the Kokoda Track as part of a campaign to combat violence against women. His selection in the Kangaroos' Test win against New Zealand prevented him from participating, but for teammate Daniel Wagon, it was the most memorable off-season event ever.

"I'd read a couple of books on Kokoda and it was something I always wanted to do," Wagon said.

"You walk through all this jungle and at the end of the day you get to this village with waterfalls and springs.

"You admire how beautiful it is as you're walking along and then you think back on what had gone on there before.

"At every stop they would explain to you every battle that occurred, what it was all about. It was the best thing I've ever done - it was unreal."

It was also a big off-season for Luke Williamson. The disappointment of a grand final defeat was tempered by the signing of a new two-year deal at Manly - and a lifelong deal after marrying girlfriend Michelle. The man known as "The Cougar" celebrated the nuptials with a trip to Vegas.

"The Cougar and the lady friend are now one," Williamson said. "We've hit the jackpot in Vegas and we're not coming back."

Also in Vegas were Canberra trio Troy Thompson, Marshall Chalk and Phil Graham. Thompson said everything you've heard about Sin City is true. "We lost the plot in Vegas," Thompson said. "We got on the drink, had a few gambles and ended up missing our flight home.

"We ended up staying for another four days.

"If you play roulette or whatever they give you free grog. They fill you up that much, it's disgraceful.

"I lost heaps - but I wasn't that guy who lost $15,000."

While the men from the Green Machine felt pretty green after their excesses in Vegas, they did get to watch Will Smith filming his latest movie, Hancock, in LA.

"We had to dry out and do a few touristy things," he said.

The players weren't the only ones involved in horror stories.

Long-time Penrith media manager Rob Weaver suffered a season-ending injury when he fell down a flight of stairs on holiday. He broke his ankle and foot in two places and tore the ligament off the bone and is now hobbling about on crutches.

"Alcohol played no part at all," Weaver claimed.

Craig Bellamy had plenty of reasons to party after steering Melbourne to premiership success and then earning the NSW Origin coaching job. He celebrated by taking wife Wendy on a caravaning holiday from Brisbane to Melbourne.

Meanwhile, Roosters captain Craig Fitzgibbon packed his surfboard and his family on trips to Samoa and Yamba, on the NSW North Coast.

"It' important to get away, it just gets your mind refreshed because the mental battle can be as tough as the physical one," Fitzgibbon said.

But although on a break, the workaholic forward couldn't completely let himself go before regrouping with his teammates.

"The last couple of weeks I've been doing some training on my own in preparation for pre-season," he said.

Several of his teammates spent their time off overseas, but Wests Tigers fullback Brett Hodgson said family time was his top priority.

"We've just had a baby [Christian] about 10 weeks ago, so I've just been getting involved with that," he said.

"I'm a bit of a homebody and it's wonderful to get away from everything and spend time with your family."