Adam Perkins.
Adam Perkins is an unassuming kind of guy.
The 32-year-old is a proud father-of-two, a surfing fanatic and a man who simply loves playing rugby union with his mates at the Maitland Blacks.
This means Perkins (pictured) tries to avoid the spotlight at all costs, but this Saturday afternoon at Marcellin Park there will be no escaping it.
The two-time Anderson Medal winner will be front and centre as he runs out for his 200th game in the Blacks jersey, becoming the 40th player to reach the mark in the club’s 135-year history.
“I think it [200 games] means I’m getting old,” Perkins joked.
“I’m not really sure what it means to me, but I’m proud to get my 200 games – not many people get to do it.
“It’s a good club and I’m looking forward to it but the best thing about reaching 200 is all the mates you make, you wouldn’t do it otherwise.”
There has been little contemplation of the upcoming milestone for Perkins, who is away working in Mudgee this week.
The loose forward would love nothing more than the first grade XV, which he is now once more a part of, to crack a win against Nelson Bay and get their Newcastle and Hunter Rugby Union season back on track.
“More importantly I would love to get a win up,” he said.
“They have been going alright this year and we’ve had a bit of a slow start.”
Perkins debuted for the Blacks in 1999, as a teenager in third grade.
He finished that season, the last time the Blacks won a club championship, in first grade and claimed a minor-major
premiership on the wing.
Perkins has gone on to spend most of his career in the top grade, amounting 163 games in the Blacks first XV, which puts him fifth on the all-time list behind Jack Lynch (274), Chris Lynch (216), David Bevan (184) and Chris Hewitt (175).
He is the tenth player at the club to exceed 150 matches in first grade.
Perkins returned to play this season after two years out – a season off the paddock and a step back to thirds in 2010.
“I just missed it,” he said.
“I only came over to watch a couple of games last year but I decided I wanted to play while I still could.”
The Blacks kick off at 3pm on Saturday.
* See the weekend edition of the Mercury for more Maitland Blacks news and check out the website for action photos from the opening two rounds of the season.