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Peter Tunks (born August 30, 1958 in Sydney, New South Wales) is an Australian former rugby league player for the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Canterbury Bulldogs, Penrith Panthers, New South Wales and the Australian national side.
Australia 1985-87: 6 Tests (0pts)
New South Wales 1981-87: 9 games (0pts)
South Sydney Rabbitohs 1977-83: 98 games - 27t (86pts)
Canterbury Bulldogs 1984-89: 118 games - 14t (56pts)
Penrith Panthers 1990: 12 games (0pts)
Starting out as an Easts junior, Tunks trailed with both Easts and Manly before being graded by Souths in the late 1970s. A tough no-nonsense prop, Tunks toiled for seven seasons with the Rabbitohs (overcoming bouts of hepatitis and glandular fever in 1979), before achieving success with Canterbury. A member of the Bulldogs teams that won premierships in 1984-85, Tunks played in 6 Tests for Australia (each against New Zealand), but declined to tour with the 1986 Kangaroos due to business commitments.
Tunks captained Leeds in 1987-88 and was Phil Gould's choice as captain of the Bulldogs following the standing down of Steve Mortimer in 1988. After leadin the club to a Grand Final win over Balmain that year, he then followed Gould to Penrith in 1990. Injuries relegated him to reserve grade with the Panthers and he decided to see out his career in English club football.
Tunks played for Salford and Sheffield Eagles (both 1990) before taking on a captain-coach role with Oldham. Tunk's brief was clear: avoid relegation at all costs-but with the club languishing at the bottom of the league table he resigned in February 1994 and was replaced by Bob Lindner.
[edit] Sources
- Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players, Canterbury-Bankstown edition by Alan Whiticker & Glen Hudson
[edit] External links
