George Peponis

Local junior George Peponis joined Canterbury in 1972 as a hooker after playing rugby at Canterbury Boys' High School.

In 1973, George became a regular member of the Under 23s team and played in the Preliminary Final against Balmain. The following year, he made a meteoric rise to first grade, making his debut before playing through the finals series, featuring in that year's Grand Final against Eastern Suburbs. 

Season 1975 saw George sidelined with a broken leg, before returning to the field in time to feature in the finals, including the reserve grade Preliminary Semi-Final. 

From 1976 he held the hooker spot for five seasons, making his debut for NSW and helping take Canterbury to that year's Preliminary Final. 

Further representative honours would come for Peponis, playing eight games total for NSW and Captaining Australia in five Tests in the 1978 Kangaroo Tour and 1980 Tour of New Zealand. 

He holds the distinction as the first Canterbury junior to play for Australia while at the Club, the first to captain Australia and the first to captain Australia in a three Test whitewash of the British. 

After an injury-riddled 1977, he was appointed first-grade captain the following season, guiding the side to 1979 Grand Final against St George.

Season 1980 proved to be a significant one for George, as he led the Bulldogs to the Club's first Premiership since 1942 with a dominant 17-4 Grand Final victory over Easts. 

Following retirement in 1982, Peponis was awarded Life Membership of the Club, and held a role as Chairman of the Football Club Board. 

Peponis was named at Hooker in the Berries to Bulldogs 70 Year Team of Champions in 2004, before being inducted into the Bulldogs Ring of Champions in 2007.

On 1st August 2015, he was inducted in the Canterbury-Bankstown Hall of Fame as part of the clubs 80th Year celebrations.

"At halftime I asked George how things were in the rucks. He said: 'Okay, no problems' in his usual way. The same with Mortimer. They gave me the impression the job was virtually over."

Former Head Coach Ted Glossop Recounting his 1980 Grand Final halftime address