MEREWETHER hooker Bill Dunn gives his opponent 20 kilograms most games.
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If he slides across to pack down at prop, the disparity climbs to 50 or, sometimes, 60kg.
Dunn stands 170cm and clocks the scales at 83kg. Hardly a giant. Certainly not in the modern game where front-rowers rise above six-foot and weigh 110kg-plus.
Regardless it doesn't alter Dunn's confidence or bull-at-a-gate approach.
It has been that way since a then colt made his first-grade debut in 2011.
On Saturday, Dunn will run out for his 100th first-grade appearance when the Greens take on Lake Macquarie at Townson Oval.
Roos hooker Sapati Peniata is one of the smaller hookers at about 100kg. Props Wendell Wilson and Willie Fraser are north of 130kg.
"The boys usually remind me of my stature," Dunn said with a laugh. "Against the Roos, it will definitely be physical. The first round was bruising. It would be good to get a good win over them to springboard us into the back end of the season."
Merewether's front-row stocks have bulked up with the arrival of English bookends Dave Whiting and Charlie Brown.
"It's nice to have a few bigger bodies alongside me," Dunn said.
Dunn hasn't given his milestone "much thought" but was "stoked" to bring it up at home.
Merewether co-coach Mick Gill believes the best is yet to come from the rugged rake and Greens junior.
"It feels like he has been around 100 years but he is only 26," Gill said. "He would go close to the record for the quickest 100 games in first grade in the club. The thing about Bill is that he never takes a backward step. He always meet the challenge you set for him. I have seen him pack against guys 50 kilo heavier than him and hold his own. When we have asked him to play prop, he has never shied away from it.
"Every year he is getting better and his game is maturing. He still has half a career in front of him. I think he will set some club records by the time he is finished."
Merewether (44 points) and Lake Macquarie (41) sit in fourth and fifth place respectively.
The Roos are fresh from the bye but are missing a host of backline stars headed by Brendan Holliday, Hayden Pedersen and Ray Laulala.
"I am just trying to get everyone to the starting line," coach Gareth Polamo said. "We have one foot in the door for the semis. If we can get everyone right, then we can try and put out the best team."
After the Greens, the Roos host Hamilton and Maitland before completing the season away to Nelson Bay.
"You want to challenge yourself against the better teams," Polamo said. "We are likely to play one of those teams again in the semis. I think we are in a good position to see where we are at and then reflect and see where we need to improve."
In other games Saturday, Maitland host premiers Hamilton in a repeat of last season's grand final, University host Singleton and Southern Beaches welcome Nelson Bay to Ernie Calland Oval.
