Signing with the Balmain club, the 1944 NSWRFL season was his first[1] and at the end of it he played in the Premiership Final against Newtown which the Tigers won 12-8.
[3] He made several try-saving tackles, which earned him praise as the Kangaroos held Great Britain to an 8-all draw in the first test.
Again playing at fullback in the third test, after only 7 minutes Parkinson was tackled heavily and suffered a broken bone in his ankle.
Parkinson returned for the 1948 NSWRFL season[6] and once again Balmain reached the premiership decider but lost 8-5 to Western Suburbs.
He played at fullback and kicked goals in each of Cessnock's Newcastle Rugby League grand finals wins of 1950, 1954 and 1955.