It has been a long time coming for Aaron Watt but it will be all worthwhile when he runs onto Marcellin Park this Saturday with his three sons.
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The 38-year-old from Rutherford will notch up game number 200 for Maitland on “back to Blacks” day with Angus, Patrick and Oscar by his side.
The double century milestone comes after starting his career with the senior club more than two decades ago when his junior age group folded.
Since then Watt has played every position on the rugby field across all grades, as well as managing teams and coaching his sons in juniors.
“I’ve been trying to get there for a while and it is a good accolade at the club,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to Saturday and running out with my boys.”
Some of the highs include making his first grade debut alongside brother Dayne, managing second grade in Maitland’s last club championship of 1999 and seeing his father, life member Rod, involved as a strapper for more than 30 years.
The lows have been injury-induced with Watt now sporting a plastic eye socket and a pin holding his skull together following an incident playing first grade against Singleton in 1998 as well as a broken jaw in four places caused in his comeback season two years later.
But Watt’s life in rugby union was inevitable after being taken to a Blacks game by his parent on the way home from hospital at just two weeks of age.
Watt will line up at halfback for Maitland against Southern Lakes in President’s Cup at Marcellin Park on Saturday.
Watt’s teammate Craig Clark will play his 100th match for the Blacks after returning to the club this season from a six-year century-game stint for the East Maitland Eagles.
In the Blacks top grade Dutchman Kees Beentjees will make his debut in the first XV at outside centre after arriving in Maitland from Lake Macquarie, who withdrew from the premier one competition last month.
Beentjees will partner Jye Estatheo in the centres, which shifts Josh Gray to the wing and Steve Whitehead drops back to reserves.
The rest of the team remains unchanged.
Main game kicks off at 3pm.
1 James Curran
2 Dan Runchel
3 Jackson Paul
4 Shaun Connelly
5 James Johnston
6 Nick Davidson
7 Adam Perkins
8 Sean O’Connor (c)
9 Luke Cunningham
10 Joe Lavis
11 Rob Williamson
12 Jye Estatheo
13 Kees Beentjees
14 Josh Gray
15 Josh McCormack