The 21-year-old front-rower admits 18 months ago he didn't even know where the nearest gym was, let alone what to do when he got there.

He was also renowned as not being the fastest back at the club.

"I was probably the slowest winger in the competition and I was too skinny to play in the forwards too so I had to get a bit bigger," he said.

"Finding out where the gym was probably helped; I didn't even go up until about a year and a half ago."

The cancellation of the Group 3 rugby league competition in 2020 due to the pandemic couldn't have happened at a better time for the Breakers junior.

It bought him some time and he used it to his advantage by putting on more than 10 kilograms.

By the time kick-off rolled around this season, he was in the best physical shape to be able to handle the demands of mixing it with the big bodies.

A bricklayer by trade, Perry said the main difference from being on the end of slick backline moves compared to putting the footy under his wing and making the hard yards was the no-frills stuff.

"The tackling and the hit-ups are different ... they're not as fancy," he said.

"It's more physical in the middle but I enjoy it. You've got to be fitter in the middle too."

The front-rower is happy to do as he's told with hooker Joss Cleal feeding him the ball through the middle third of the field.

Perry wants to consolidate his spot in the top 17 every week after being one of the Breakers best in their opening three games of the season.

"Staying in first grade is the goal for me now," he said.

Coach Dan Kemp was confident his young charge wouldn't have any trouble becoming a permanent fixture in first grade if his first three weeks of effort was any indication.

"He's got great lungs, a great work ethic and he just goes and goes," he said.

"He just needs to keep patrolling the middle of the field. We didn't think he'd be as good as what he's been. He's really stood out."

The Breakers will return to Regional Stadium on Sunday for the first time in 672 days when they host Wingham.

Perry's learning curve will continue against a Tigers side who base their game on the back of strong go-forward.

"I imagine their strength will be in their forwards which will be fun," Kemp said.

"It's been a very slow start to the year for us, but improvement is the key and hopefully sometime soon we'll find some form.

"Every week is a learning curve."

First grade kicks off at 2.45pm.

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