Wests Bulldogs’ Hunter Thomas plays 400th club game

At the end of last season, Hunter Thomas’ girlfriend told him he had to make a choice between her or the rugby. On Saturday, Hunter plays his 400th game.

SHE told him “it’s either me or the rugby, Hunter.”

One year later, Hunter Thomas will run out for his 400th senior game for Wests Bulldogs in Brisbane’s club rugby competition as a single man.

His true total of games is closer to 600 when a decade in the Wests juniors is counted but the 700-plus record of GPS legend Robin “Buff’ Thomson is safe for a while yet.

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Better known as the People’s Captain, “Mad Dawg” first laced up a boot as a four-year-old in 1989 and has no plans to take them off yet, as his then-girlfriend learned the hard way.

“My ex gave me the ultimatum at the end of last season, she said it was either me or the rugby,” the flanker-turned-hooker said.

“I had a think for about a minute before I gave her the old ‘Oh well, it’s been a nice four years.’”

Hunter Thomas will play his 400th club game for Wests Bulldogs on Saturday. Picture: AAP Image/Steve Pohlner

Thomas is the ‘anchor leg’ of his side’s boatrace team. Picture: AAP Image/Steve Pohlner

Between anchoring boat races, giving the club’s Under-19 players grief and witnessing “terrible, terrible things” at team Kangaroo Court sessions, Thomas has enjoyed a colourful tenure at the club on and off the field.

The one-time club captain was instrumental in the formation of a Friday night social team that has successfully delayed the retirement of dozens of other players since 2009.

Hunter Thomas a kid with his mum Kerry.

Thomas holding the ball as a 4-year-old in the 1989 Under 7’s team.

Thomas is officially part of the furniture at Wests because his building company installed many of the seats, railings and changing room fittings at the club’s headquarters at Sci-Fleet Stadium in Toowong.

“To be a part of a place for this long is pretty special,” he said.

“To come down here, see all your mates and the old boys spinning their war stories, it’s a really great thing to be a part of.

“Some of my fondest memories at the club were playing Colts with my mates, getting p----- and socialising after games.”

Hunter Thomas will play his 400th club game on Saturday. Picture: AAP Image/Steve Pohlner

Thomas will bring up his 400th senior game for the club on Saturday when his Second Grade side take on Bond University at Sci-Fleet Stadium, but without his signature moustache and goatee – a casualty of the need to scrub up for the cameras sure to be lurking.

At St Lucia, table-topping Brothers are set to receive a timely boost against University when Australian under-20s Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson and Michael Wood return from rep duty.