Reed Mahoney doesn't mind if people call him a "grub" - he just hates how it makes his family feel.
The Canterbury hooker claims the perception of him being a dirty niggler who only ever looks to deliver cheap shots, is overblown.
"There's been a lot of stuff on my discipline on being a grub and stuff, I don't go into games thinking like that, or to be like that sort of person," Mahoney said.
The 26-year-old has played a big part in Canterbury's revival under Cameron Ciraldo with the Bulldogs building on last year's drought-ending finals appearance by entering the round-six bye on top of the NRL ladder for the first time since 2014.
Mahoney has played every minute across a 5-0 start, the Dogs' best opening to a season in over 30 years.
But for all the encouraging signs that Canterbury can contend for a premiership, Mahoney's on-field wind-up antics continue to divide opinion.
Mahoney was the most penalised player in the NRL in 2023 and 2024 and is in the top 10 to start to 2025.
The diminutive hooker made a name for himself by goading forwards such as Newcastle prop Jack Hetherington and Wests Tigers back-rower Alex Seyfarth into losing their tempers.
So when Mahoney escaped sanction for a flop on Cronulla utility Daniel Atkinson in the Bulldogs' round-four win over the Sharks, the No.9 came in for a flurry of criticism.
"Sometimes I step over the mark but I've thought this year I've been really good," Mahoney said.
"There was the incident a couple weeks ago, I definitely could have handled it better, but there was no intention to hurt anybody or anything like that and it's something I've been working on a lot."
Mahoney can handle whatever criticism comes his way, he just doesn't like the impact it has on those close to him.
"Without saying it arrogantly, it doesn't have an effect on me," Mahoney said.
"But it definitely does affect the people around me - my partner and my mum, especially.
"They love reading comments (on social media), and I have to tell them many times to not read those."
Mahoney's spirit and will to win has been lauded by Ciraldo as the Dogs look to go 7-0 on Good Friday with a win over South Sydney.
Canterbury are expected to have five-eighth Matt Burton and rampaging back-rower Viliame Kikau available next week after barely missing a beat without their star pair.
"It's been great, the first five weeks," Mahoney said.
"It might be a bit of a surprise for other people but we worked extremely hard over the summer and got a lot of basic things right earlier at the start of the season.
"It says a lot about our system, defensively and attack wise, our system holds up.
"It doesn't matter who's there it works, and when you do it well good things happen."
