The King family has a long standing tradition in rugby league.

From national representation to state premierships and from overseas success to local teams – the name is synonymous with the sport in this region. 

But on Saturday that ­history collides.

Third generation Max King will trial for the North Sydney Bears after being selected in the under 16s squad for this year’s Harold Matthews Cup.

But he will be lining up against some familiar colours at TG Millner Field, the renowned red and white strip of St George worn by his grandfather Johnny King during the club’s glory days.

The former Australian winger, who was named one of the country’s top 100 players during the code’s centenary celebrations in 2008, played in the last seven of the Dragons’ record 11 consecutive premiership victories between 1956 and 1966.

So it will be with mixed emotions that Johnny watches Max compete against his former club this weekend, but he hasn’t given up hope that the 15-year-old from Thornton may follow in his footsteps and don the famous big red vee one day.

“I’m pleased to see Max selected in grade football,” Johnny, former boss of the Maitland Leagues Club, said.

“It will be funny going down and watching Max play against my old club side but I want him to do well.

“Hopefully there will be some administrators and selectors there and they might even have a look at him.”

This will be the Bears’ final trial match before the statewide competition kicks off on February 2 and it will be the only chance they have to play against the Dragons in 2013 with teams split into two pools for the regular rounds.

The next opportunity will be finals time and that depends on results of both parties during the season.

Max, a West Maitland junior, was selected in the Bears’ squad late last year and managed to secure a spot in the final 22.

He said he was looking forward to the chance to play against the best 300 players in his age group from across NSW.

“I expect it to be tough,” Max said.

“You will get a view to what everything is like and you will be up against different players and different teams.” 

The North Sydney squad, managed by former Bears great Greg Florimo, have already accounted for the Manly Sea Eagles and Balmain Tigers in trial games this year.

This weekend Max will be watched on the sidelines by grandfather Johnny and his father David, a former Gold Coast and Huddersfield prop.