Max King To Hit 100-Game Milestone

King, who was born in England, was born to a family who has Rugby League in their DNA. His great-grandfather, Cec, played for South Sydney Rabbitohs from 1945-46, his grandfather, Johnny, was a seven-time Premiership winner with the St George Dragons and his father, David, played for the Gold Coast Seagulls from 1991-1992.

At just 7 years old, his family relocated to Australia. A West Maitland Wallaroo junior, King signed to the North Sydney Bears Harold Matthews Cup team in 2013 before moving to the Newcastle Knights SG Ball Cup, and eventually finding his start in the NRL with the Gold Coast Titans.

He made his NRL debut in 2017 against the Eels, staying with the club for 2.5 years before being traded to the Melbourne Storm midway through the 2019 season.

King played just 12 matches for Melbourne, celebrating his 50th NRL match in Round 20 of the 2020 NRL Premiership season. During the match, King was placed on report for a hip-drop tackle on St George Illawarra forward Blake Lawrie. The tackle was reported to the judiciary and resulted in a three-match suspension, meaning King missed the chance to play in the 2020 NRL Grand Final.

King then missed the entire 2021 season following complications from an off-season achilles tendon operation. 

On October 1, 2021, the Bulldogs proudly announced that the then 24-year-old would join the Club for the 2022 season.

'It's a proud, hard-working Club," King said following his signing.

"I'm just trying to be the best kind of player I can be. The last couple of years hasn't worked out so well for me in terms of injury but one thing it has brought me is a lot of hunger. I feel like it has been a great match for me coming here. The Club is in a rebuilding stage where they want to put a bit more pride into their jersey and I'm at the stage in my career where I am hungry and I want to help build the Club into that."

In 2022 Max King ran out in the Bulldogs badge for the first time. Under interim coach and now Head NSW Cup Coach, Mick Potter, King locked down a consistent starting position, fielding both prop and back row. 

Not having missed a game in the NRL since departing Storm at the end of 2021, his career lifeline from General Manager of Football, Phil Gould was all the chance he needed to reinvigorate his career. 

He played 24 matches for the Bulldogs in 2022 and with Cameron Ciraldo's arrival in 2023, it wasn't long before he was impressing the new head coach with his leadership skills and work ethic: "‘‘He's just a workhorse that not a lot of people notice, but for us, the quality of his work has really increased this pre-season, and he's starting to feel more comfortable around the group in a leadership role," Ciraldo said.

In January 2023, King was announced to Ciraldo's leadership group tasked with rebuilding the squad's culture. The group was appointed to work closely in terms of leadership and development with Club legend and ex-captain, Andrew 'Bobcat' Ryan. 

On the field, he proved to yet again be a consistent pick in the starting line-up, a constant shining light in the middle for the Club.

King played a further 23 matches for the Bulldogs throughout the 2024 season, a season tested by injuries and squad depth. Despite the challenges, he continued to prove his leadership, reliability and resilience.

On the 13th of March 2024, King announced that he had resigned a new three-year deal that would keep him on in the blue and white until at least the end of 2027.

Ciraldo praised the extension, stating the 26-year-old is the type of person and player that the Club is trying to build around:

Max is a huge resigning for us. He really trusts in what we are trying to do here and he's been a strong driver of those standards and processes that we've got.

"To see him commit to the Bulldogs for the next few years is really pleasing signs and he is someone we want to be able to build our pack around."

This weekend, the recently renewed lock will run out to face his former side in his 50th Bulldogs Club match and 100th NRL game.

Don't miss the chance to cheer on the milestone moment for Max King, secure your tickets now.