George Peponis reached many highs in his illustrious career. He was the first Canterbury junior to play for Australia while still at the club, the first junior to captain Australia and was captain when Canterbury won the 1980 premiership.
The first Greek born footballer to represent Australia at Rugby League, Peponis graduated as a doctor of medicine in 1978 after being offered a unique scholarship programme run by Canterbury Bankstown.
- Status: Pending1978 to 1980Australian Representative
Beginnings
In 1972 George joined Canterbury as a hooker and represented Canterbury in all three junior cup teams - SG Ball, Jersey Flegg Cup, and the President's Cup. This was the perfect grounding for a highly successful football career. Peponis was graded in 1973 after coming through the juniors from Canterbury Boys High. In 1974 he was the hooker in the young team that lost to Easts in the grand final and, after passing his medical exams in 1976, gained celebrity as being a 'footballing doctor'.
Achievements
Peponis played for NSW in 1978 before making his Test debut against NZ in the First Test in Sydney and scoring a clever try from dummy half (a trademark of his game). In 1979 Peponis made Ruby League history again by becoming the first foreign-born player to be appointed as Australian Captain. He led Australia to an effortless 3-0 defeat of England. He also captained Australia in two successful Tests in NZ but a worrying neck injury led to his eventual retirement in July 1982.
Post Representation
Dr Peponis was the inaugural Chairman of the Bulldogs Ambassadors Club and from 2002 was the Chairman of the Bulldogs Rugby League Club. He is a life member of the Bulldogs. Outside of football Dr Peponis is a successful medical practitioner with a practice in Five Dock.