Justin Peterkin celebrates 300 grade games with Kurri Kurri on Sunday

Bumping aside opponents became his trademark, but one of Kurri’s favourite sons revealed the moniker came from his days playing the round-ball with Weston Bears as a youngster.

“I played soccer as a kid, my mum wouldn’t let me play league,” Peterkin said in the lead up to his 300^th grade game for the Bulldogs on Sunday against Central Newcastle at St John Oval.

“I got the nickname from my under-10 coach as I was bigger than most of the other kids and would run around bumping them aside.”

Peterkin, who played in representative teams as a goalkeeper, finally managed to persuade his mother when he was 16 to allow him to play league with his mates at the Bulldogs.

“The writing was on the wall as far as soccer. I think I have the record for the most goals conceded in a season and the most yellow cards,” Peterkin laughed.

It was a good move, he was an immediate success winning the best rooking and best forward awards in his first year of under 18s in 1998.

He started playing grade with under 19s in 2000 and played in the Newcastle representative team with good mate Mick Campton the same year.

Along the line, he won three players player awards, a best and fairest and was a member of the 2013 Bulldogs grand final team against Wests, and has been named a life member of Kurri Kurri and Newcastle Rugby League.

Peterkin rates the team spirit from the 2013 grand final team as his most treasured memory of his career.

“It was just one of those years when everything started to click towards the back end of the season. We had to win every game to make the finals and to end up doing it and getting the community right behind you was fantastic,” he said.

“We were all good mates. When it came out about George (coach George Ndaira) being let go for the next season, it wasn’t about him personally, it was about playing for each other.”

Peterkin said Regan Tanner and Paul Skovgard were the best players he played with in his time at the Bulldogs.

“I couldn’t split Skovie or Regan  they were both unbelievable blokes as defender and leading from the front. Then you’ve got to throw in Jesse Royal and George (Ndaira) not only as a player but as a coach. He is the best I ever had,” he said. 

As for the hardest opponent he played against.

“There’s been a lot, probably Skovie when he went to Lakes. He was the best player to play with and the worst to face,” Peterkin said.

He said it had been a privilege to play at the Bulldogs and he would no doubt find himself standing with the Old Boys in retirement.

“You couldn’t come across a better community to play a sport and be involved with. You get stopped up the street. People talk to you and want to know how you’re going and what’s happening if they missed a game,” he said.

“It’s a great feeling when you run out on to that field and when you walk off a winner. Everyone wants to be your best mate but they are also your hardest critic too when you don’t turn up.

“You put on the jersey you better make sure you play 110 per cent.”

Bulldogs secretary Jeff Polglase urged Bulldogs fans to get along on Sunday to help celebrate Peterkin’s milestone.

“It’s a remarkable achievement for Justin to achieve the 300 game mark, that includes over 200 first grade games. He embodies all that is in the spirit of the Bulldogs, commitment, toughness, longevity and dedication.

“He’s not only been to the forefront on the footballing sense but also on the club side, he has been one of the leaders in organising any club event and fundraising to help keep the club afloat.

“His unselfishness was shown a couple of years ago when he and his wife Angie, when organising the fundraising for James Mitchell and Phillip Grant both workmates who were tragically killed at Austar mine.

“The club heartily congratulates Justin.”