Jackson joins Bulldogs greats

Josh Jackson heads into the 2020 season with the captaincy next to his name for the third consecutive year and will lead the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs into battle with the Parramatta Eels on Thursday night.

Thursday’s clash with the arch-rivals is a significant one, as Jackson will run out in the blue and white for his 250th club game, a milestone surpassed by only 11 players across the club’s history.

Jackson will join the likes of Hazem El Masri, Steven Folkes, Steve Mortimer, Terry Lamb and Brent Sherwin who have reached the milestone.

Club games are recorded across NRL, reserve grade and third grade (under 20s) premiership matches.

The Gulgong Terrier played his first game for the club in 2010 as a member of the under 20s team, claiming the club’s NYC Player of the Year and scoring 11 tries from his 27 appearances.

The 2011 season saw Jackson play a further 27 matches with the under 20 side, before staring 2012 in reserve grade and finishing the year with 12 first grade games.

He made his NRL debut against the Melbourne Storm in round 16 of the 2012 season and his first 12 games of his NRL career included a finals series appearance, a hat-trick of tries against the Sydney Roosters, a starting spot in a Grand Final team and he rounded out the year by claiming the Bulldogs rookie of the year award.

Since his debut and outside of rep games, the 29-year old has only missed one NRL game through suspension over a career of 181 appearances and has become one of the most respected leaders and players within the game.

The reigning Clubman of the Year took over as captain from James Graham in 2018 and as the excitement builds towards the season opener, Jackson will lace up the boots for the proud club for the 11th straight season.

The captain is also on track to play his 200th NRL game for the club later in the year, an achievement only 12 players before him have done.

+ 250 CLUB GAMES: