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Peter Tunks

Playing Career

All information provided below is based only on data available in the RLP database and should be used as a guide only.

Vital Statistics

Born
Saturday, 30th August, 1958
Current Age
67 years and 336 days
Place Of Birth
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Competitions Won

World Cup
1985/88
Test Series
1985 Australia vs New Zealand, 1986 Australia vs New Zealand
State of Origin
1987, 1985, 1986
NSW City vs Country Origin
1987, 1988, 1989
NSW City vs Country Firsts
1985, 1986
NSWRL Premiership (NRL)
1984, 1985, 1988
Preseason Cup
1978
Midweek Cup
1981
UK Second Division
1990/91

Biography

Easts junior trialed with both Easts and Manly before being graded by Souths in the late 1970s. A tough, no-nonsense prop Peter Tunks toiled for seven seasons with the Rabbitohs, (overcoming bouts of hepatitis and glandular fever in 1979), before achieving success with C’bury. A member of the Bulldogs’ teams that won premierships in 1984-85 Tunks played in 6 Tests for Australia (each against NZ) 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 following the standing down of Steve Mortimer in 1988. After leading the club to a grand final win over Balmain that year, Tunks later 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 with Salford and Sheffield Eagles (both 1990) before taking on a captain-coach role with Oldham. Tunks' brief in England 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.
- ALAN WHITICKER

Playing Career Statistics

To view a list of corresponding matches, click on the List button.

Representative Career - International Comp WinsStartsIntAPP3ST4ST3PT4PTTG1FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
Tests (Senior International Matches) -516------------42-66.67%List
World Cup 12-2------------11-50.00%List
Tour MatchesAustraliaAUS-9110----------1-82-80.00%List
Test Series 2415------------41-80.00%List
Representative Career - Australia Comp WinsStartsIntAPP3ST4ST3PT4PTTG1FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
State of Origin 3729-1--1---4---63-66.67%List
NSW City vs Country Origin 33-3------------3--100.00%List
NSW City vs Country Firsts 22-2------------2--100.00%List
NSW City vs Country 56-6-1--1---4---51-83.33%List
Club Career - Australia Comp WinsStartsIntAPP3ST4ST3PT4PTTG1FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
NSWRFL/NSWRL (NRL Premiership) 3209242332220--42---14622-133901057.08%List
NRL Finals -13-13-2--2---8-1-103-76.92%List
Preseason Cup 13472---2---6---43-57.14%List
Midweek Cup 12412531--4---13---157360.00%List
Challenge Cup AU -617------------52-71.43%List
Club Career - UK Comp WinsStartsIntAPP3ST4ST3PT4PTTG1FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
English Championship -24226-3--3---12---1012438.46%List
Challenge Cup -5-5-1--1---4---32-60.00%List
Regal Trophy -5-5------------41-80.00%List
Yorkshire Cup -3-3-1--1---4---21-66.67%List
Lancashire Cup --11------------1--100.00%List
UK Top Division -24226-3--3---12---1012438.46%List
UK Second Division 1617-1--1---4---7--100.00%List
Overall StartsIntAPP3ST4ST3PT4PTTG1FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
First Class 301363372729--56---19723-1981221758.75%List

Test Matches - By Team

TeamYears StartsIntAPP3ST4ST3PT4PTTG1FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
Australia1985-87 516------------42-66.67%List

World Cup Matches - By Team

TeamYears StartsIntAPP3ST4ST3PT4PTTG1FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
Australia1985-86 2-2------------11-50.00%List

Australia - By Team

TeamYears StartsIntAPP3ST4ST3PT4PTTG1FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
NSW1981, 1984-87 729-1--1---4---63-66.67%List
NSW City Seconds1984 1-1-1--1---4----1-0.00%List
NSW City Firsts1985-86 2-2------------2--100.00%List
NSW City1987-89 3-3------------3--100.00%List

NSWRFL/NSWRL (NRL Premiership) - By Year

TeamSeason StartsIntAPP3ST4ST3PT4PTTG1FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
SouthsSouth Sydney19771977 NSWRFL 2241---1---3----4-0.00%List
SouthsSouth Sydney19781978 NSWRFL 145192---2---6---108152.63%List
SouthsSouth Sydney19791979 NSWRFL 4151---1---3---14-20.00%List
SouthsSouth Sydney19801980 NSWRFL 16-165---5---15---88-50.00%List
SouthsSouth Sydney19811981 NSWRFL 21-218---8---24---812138.10%List
SouthsSouth Sydney19821982 NSWRFL Winfield Cup 147215---5---15---128157.14%List
SouthsSouth Sydney19831983 NSWRFL Winfield Cup 14216-5--5---20---78143.75%List
CanterburyCanterbury19841984 NSWRL Winfield Cup 24-24-5--5---20-1-204-83.33%List
CanterburyCanterbury19851985 NSWRL Winfield Cup 18119-3--3---12---134268.42%List
CanterburyCanterbury19861986 NSWRL Winfield Cup 16-16-4--4---16---96156.25%List
CanterburyCanterbury19871987 NSWRL Winfield Cup 17-17---------1--125-70.59%List
CanterburyCanterbury19881988 NSWRL Winfield Cup 20121-3--3---12-1-174-80.95%List
CanterburyCanterbury19891989 NSWRL Winfield Cup 19322------------1010245.45%List
PenrithPenrith19901990 NSWRL Winfield Cup 10212---------1--65150.00%List

NSWRFL/NSWRL (NRL Premiership) - By Team

TeamYears StartsIntAPP3ST4ST3PT4PTTG1FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
South Sydney1977-83 8517102225--27---86---4652445.10%List
Canterbury1984-89 1145119-15--15---6012-8133568.07%List
Penrith1990 10212---------1--65150.00%List

English Career - By Year

TeamSeason StartsIntAPP3ST4ST3PT4PTTG1FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
LeedsLeeds1987/88 24-24-4--4---16---156362.50%List
SalfordSalford1990/91 628-1--1---4---8--100.00%List
SheffieldSheffield1990/91 13215-1--1---4---410126.67%List

English Career - By Team

TeamYears StartsIntAPP3ST4ST3PT4PTTG1FGFGPtsBin5BinOffWLDWin% 
Leeds1987 24-24-4--4---16---156362.50%List
Salford1990 628-1--1---4---8--100.00%List
Sheffield1990 13215-1--1---4---410126.67%List

Your Say

  • Graeme Hobbs
    23 May 2011 5:59pm

    My question is not ruby league related. I remember Peter Tunks had a wine bar in Randwick. I would like to know the name of that wine bar to settle a bet please.

  • Anonymous
    29 Jun 2012 8:09pm

    Tunks had a bar in Randwick in the 1980s named Baxters.

  • Costa
    26 Oct 2017 7:47pm

    One of the best prop forwards of the 80s. Always remembered for his powerhouse performances in the great Bulldogs side who had the best forward pack of the 80s.

  • Paul Carter
    14 May 2020 6:17pm

    You can hear him on Talkinsport on 2SM between 3:00 and 6:00 pm from Monday to Wednesday.

Want to have your say? Add a comment.

Contributions: Rugby League Tables, Paul Carter, Greg Fiveash, Andrew Ferguson, Shawn Dollin, AJ Lucantonio, Alan Katzmann, Steven Russo, Max Turner, Bill Bates, CodyCruickshank, Tim Costello

Sources:David Middleton's Rugby League Yearbook (1987-88 to present), Match Video, Widnes RLFC History, Irvin Saxton's Record Keepers' Club, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook (1981-82 to 1999), News Reports