[7] Perry made his first-grade début in round 17 of the 2000 season playing for Newcastle against the New Zealand Warriors at EnergyAustralia Stadium on 27 May.

[8] Perry played at prop forward in the 2001 NRL Grand Final-winning Newcastle team that defeated the Parramatta Eels, 30–24 at Stadium Australia on 30 September in an upset victory.

[10] In the 2005 NRL season, Perry was limited to only seven appearances for Newcastle as the club endured a horror year on the field and finished last.

[14][15] Two days following the 2008 NRL grand final, Perry was named in the 24-man Australia squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.

[17] Perry was rewarded for his and Manly's good start to 2010 NRL season with selection on the bench for Australia in the 2010 ANZAC Test against New Zealand in Melbourne on 7 May.