Peter Sterling
Encyclopedia
Peter Maxwell John "Sterlo" Sterling OAM
(born 16 June 1960) is an Australian rugby league
commentator and former player. He was one of the all-time great halfbacks and a major contributor to Parramatta Eels
' dominance of the New South Wales Rugby League premiership
in the 1980s. Sterling played nineteen Tests for the Australian national team between 1982 and 1988. He also played in thirteen State of Origins
for New South Wales, winning man of the match on four occasions. He played in four premiership-winning sides with Parramatta in 1981–1983 and 1986 and has been inducted into the Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame
.
, where his father was serving as a dental technician.Sterling then moved to Sydney were he attended Patrician Brothers' College, Fairfield.
, Mick Cronin
, Steve Ella
and Eric Grothe
a great deal of ball. His kicking, backed up by Kenny and Ray Price's superb chasing, often gave Parramatta an advantage in territory. His fast mind meant that he rarely made a wrong decision.. He was an effective defender rare to miss a tackle, and often in position to secure a loose ball.
He joined the Parramatta Eels
in 1978 making his first appearance as a stand-in fullback during the 1978 finals series. After a few games at five-eighth in 1979, Sterling shifted to halfback and established himself in 1980. 1981 saw Parramatta win their initial first grade title with Sterling's superb skill and control one of the decisive factors. He played for New South Wales that year without living up to his club form, but in 1982 Parramatta could do no wrong, apart from a 0–20 thrashing at the hands of Manly in the semi final. Sterling was chosen for the Kangaroo Tour despite having not played in the State of Origin series and played in every Test in that unbeaten tour side.
In 1983, Sterling played in Australia's win in the first test against New Zealand, but wasn't selected for Australia's shock 12–19 second Test loss, was named man-of-the-match in the 2nd game of the State of Origin series and helped Parramatta to a third successive premiership title. After playing for Hull over the Australian summer, Sterling vacated his Test spot despite winning the Rugby League Week
Player of the Year award in 1984 for the first time. In the 1984 grand final, Sterling had few opportunities due to the power of the Canterbury Bulldogs
forwards, and he did not play for Parramatta in the first half of 1985 as he was with Hull. His superb skills translated to Hull and he made a prominent impact in English club rugby league, playing in the losing side of the epic 1984–85 Challenge Cup
final against Parramatta teammate Brett Kenny
. Though he was relatively quiet upon his return to Parramatta, at the end of the season Sterling's skill allowed Parramatta to crush Balmain (twice) and Penrith to move from doubtful finalists to the preliminary final – where a ruthless Canterbury side crushed them by 26 points to nil.
1986 saw Sterling almost carry a clean sweep of the major awards – except the Rothmans Medal – and win the inaugural Clive Churchill Medal
in Parramatta's fourth grand final victory. He again played every Test on an unbeaten Kangaroo tour of England that year. Despite Parramatta declining from premiers to seventh with Cronin and Price retiring and Grothe and Ella playing very little due to injuries, 1987 was undoubtedly Sterling's finest year. He swept all major player of the year awards – winning the Rothmans Medal by five points, the Dally M player of the year award, and the Rugby League Week player of the year award.
1988 saw Sterling produce quality displays for Parramatta despite the team having a disappointing year. In the last Test against Great Britain he suffered a serious shoulder injury and did not play again that year. In 1989 Sterling retired from representative rugby league but performed for Parramatta till an ankle injury ended his season and plans to play out his career in England. 1990 saw Sterling play a full season at the top of his form and lead a young Parramatta side to an excellent placing. He won a second Rothmans Medal, but in the last match against Manly a shoulder injury recurred such that despite Parramatta signing him for two more seasons, Sterling was only able to play four games before his career ended.
Sterling played 229 games for Parramatta, scoring 48 tries, one goal, and 15 field goals.
after an initial media stint with Western Sydney radio station 2WS. In 1989 he wrote his autobiography, Sterlo! The Story of A Champion. Sterling has been a co-host on Nine Network
's The NRL Footy Show
with Paul Vautin
from 1994-2006. In 2007, he made a special appearance on the first episode of 2007 to give his farewell from the show. In 2010, he made a comeback to the show as an alternating host. Sterling continues hosting The Sunday Footy Show and plays a key commentary role in Nine's game coverage.
In March 2010, Sterling joined Triple M
radio, where he is the expert commentator on Monday Night Football on Triple M
as well as an occasional panellist on Dead Set Legends and The Grapple
In 1995, Sterling was picked at halfback in a poll to judge the best Australian team since the introduction of the limited-tackle rule in 1967. He won eight of fourteen votes, with the remainder going to Billy Smith, Ricky Stuart
and Allan Langer
.
In 2000 Sterling was awarded the Australian Sports Medal
for his contribution to Australia's international standing in rugby league. In 2006, he was one of six past players to be inducted into the Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame
at the Dally M. Awards 2006 award ceremony.
In February 2008, Sterling was named in the list of Australia's 100 Greatest Players (1908–2007) which was commissioned by the NRL
and ARL
to celebrate the code's centenary year in Australia.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(born 16 June 1960) is an Australian rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
commentator and former player. He was one of the all-time great halfbacks and a major contributor to Parramatta Eels
Parramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
' dominance of the New South Wales Rugby League premiership
New South Wales Rugby League premiership
The New South Wales Rugby League premiership was the first rugby league football club competition established in Australia. Run by the New South Wales Rugby League from 1908 until 1994, the premiership was the state's and later the country's elite rugby league competition...
in the 1980s. Sterling played nineteen Tests for the Australian national team between 1982 and 1988. He also played in thirteen State of Origins
Rugby League State of Origin
State of Origin is an annual best of three series of rugby league football matches contested by the Maroons and the Blues, who represent the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales respectively...
for New South Wales, winning man of the match on four occasions. He played in four premiership-winning sides with Parramatta in 1981–1983 and 1986 and has been inducted into the Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame
Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame
The Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame honors players who have shown exceptional skill at rugby league, all-time great coaches and referees, and other major contributors to the game who are Australian...
.
Early life
Sterling was born in Toowoomba, Queensland and raised in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales. He commenced his playing career at the age of fourteen when he joined the Wagga Wagga Kangaroo Panthers in 1974. As a teenager he spent several years living at RAAF Base WaggaRAAF Base Wagga
RAAF Base Wagga is located in the New South Wales town of Wagga Wagga, in the suburb of Forest Hill.The RAAF no longer controls the airfield which, although still owned by the Commonwealth of Australia, is currently leased to the Wagga Wagga City Council...
, where his father was serving as a dental technician.Sterling then moved to Sydney were he attended Patrician Brothers' College, Fairfield.
Playing career
Sterling compensated for a lack of size and pace with control and organisational skills that allowed Parramatta's all-star back line of Brett KennyBrett Kenny
Brett Kenny is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s. He was a five-eighth for the Australian national team, the New South Wales Blues representative side and the Parramatta Eels. He played in 17 Tests, made 17 State of Origin appearances and won 4...
, Mick Cronin
Mick Cronin (rugby league)
Michael William "Mick" Cronin OAM is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. He was a goal-kicking centre for the Australian national team and a stalwart for the Parramatta Eels club. He played in 22 Tests and 11 World Cup matches between 1973 and 1982...
, Steve Ella
Steve Ella
Steve Ella is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1980s. He was a utility back for the Australian national team, playing in 4 Tests between 1983 and 1985...
and Eric Grothe
Eric Grothe, Sr.
Eric "Guru" Grothe is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 1980s. A New South Wales and Australian representative winger, he played club football for the Parramatta Eels with whom he won four NSWRL premierships...
a great deal of ball. His kicking, backed up by Kenny and Ray Price's superb chasing, often gave Parramatta an advantage in territory. His fast mind meant that he rarely made a wrong decision.. He was an effective defender rare to miss a tackle, and often in position to secure a loose ball.
He joined the Parramatta Eels
Parramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
in 1978 making his first appearance as a stand-in fullback during the 1978 finals series. After a few games at five-eighth in 1979, Sterling shifted to halfback and established himself in 1980. 1981 saw Parramatta win their initial first grade title with Sterling's superb skill and control one of the decisive factors. He played for New South Wales that year without living up to his club form, but in 1982 Parramatta could do no wrong, apart from a 0–20 thrashing at the hands of Manly in the semi final. Sterling was chosen for the Kangaroo Tour despite having not played in the State of Origin series and played in every Test in that unbeaten tour side.
In 1983, Sterling played in Australia's win in the first test against New Zealand, but wasn't selected for Australia's shock 12–19 second Test loss, was named man-of-the-match in the 2nd game of the State of Origin series and helped Parramatta to a third successive premiership title. After playing for Hull over the Australian summer, Sterling vacated his Test spot despite winning the Rugby League Week
Rugby League Week
Rugby League Week is the second highest selling Australian rugby league magazine, behind major competitor Big League...
Player of the Year award in 1984 for the first time. In the 1984 grand final, Sterling had few opportunities due to the power of the Canterbury Bulldogs
Canterbury Bulldogs
The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Belmore, a suburb in the Canterbury-Bankstown region of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, as well as New South Wales Rugby League junior competitions...
forwards, and he did not play for Parramatta in the first half of 1985 as he was with Hull. His superb skills translated to Hull and he made a prominent impact in English club rugby league, playing in the losing side of the epic 1984–85 Challenge Cup
Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and Russia to take part....
final against Parramatta teammate Brett Kenny
Brett Kenny
Brett Kenny is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s. He was a five-eighth for the Australian national team, the New South Wales Blues representative side and the Parramatta Eels. He played in 17 Tests, made 17 State of Origin appearances and won 4...
. Though he was relatively quiet upon his return to Parramatta, at the end of the season Sterling's skill allowed Parramatta to crush Balmain (twice) and Penrith to move from doubtful finalists to the preliminary final – where a ruthless Canterbury side crushed them by 26 points to nil.
1986 saw Sterling almost carry a clean sweep of the major awards – except the Rothmans Medal – and win the inaugural Clive Churchill Medal
Clive Churchill Medal
The Clive Churchill Medal has been presented to the man-of-the-match of the National Rugby League's annual Grand Final match ever since the 1986 season. The award was created to honour Clive Churchill, one of the greatest rugby league players in Australian history, following his death in 1985...
in Parramatta's fourth grand final victory. He again played every Test on an unbeaten Kangaroo tour of England that year. Despite Parramatta declining from premiers to seventh with Cronin and Price retiring and Grothe and Ella playing very little due to injuries, 1987 was undoubtedly Sterling's finest year. He swept all major player of the year awards – winning the Rothmans Medal by five points, the Dally M player of the year award, and the Rugby League Week player of the year award.
1988 saw Sterling produce quality displays for Parramatta despite the team having a disappointing year. In the last Test against Great Britain he suffered a serious shoulder injury and did not play again that year. In 1989 Sterling retired from representative rugby league but performed for Parramatta till an ankle injury ended his season and plans to play out his career in England. 1990 saw Sterling play a full season at the top of his form and lead a young Parramatta side to an excellent placing. He won a second Rothmans Medal, but in the last match against Manly a shoulder injury recurred such that despite Parramatta signing him for two more seasons, Sterling was only able to play four games before his career ended.
Sterling played 229 games for Parramatta, scoring 48 tries, one goal, and 15 field goals.
Television / Radio Career
His sharp intelligence marked Sterling as an astute analyst of the game and he took to commentating on Channel NineNine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
after an initial media stint with Western Sydney radio station 2WS. In 1989 he wrote his autobiography, Sterlo! The Story of A Champion. Sterling has been a co-host on Nine Network
Nine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
's The NRL Footy Show
The NRL Footy Show
The Footy Show is a Logie Award-winning Australian sports variety television programme, shown on the Nine Network and its affiliates. Following the success of the AFL program of the same name, the Nine Network quickly developed a version for the rugby league market. The rugby league version has...
with Paul Vautin
Paul Vautin
Paul Vautin , is an Australian sports television personality and former rugby league footballer and coach. He currently hosts the NRL Footy Show and provides commentary for the Nine Network's coverage of rugby league matches...
from 1994-2006. In 2007, he made a special appearance on the first episode of 2007 to give his farewell from the show. In 2010, he made a comeback to the show as an alternating host. Sterling continues hosting The Sunday Footy Show and plays a key commentary role in Nine's game coverage.
In March 2010, Sterling joined Triple M
Triple M
The Triple M Network is an active rock radio network in Australia owned by media company Austereo, who also own the Today Network.- History :...
radio, where he is the expert commentator on Monday Night Football on Triple M
Monday Night Football on Triple M
Monday Night Football on Triple M broadcasts each Monday night NRL game, ever since its most recent inception in 2007.Austereo recently extended its deal to continue broadcasting rugby league until the conclusion of the 2012 season....
as well as an occasional panellist on Dead Set Legends and The Grapple
Rugby League Awards
Since retiring from playing the game, Sterling has won several awards.In 1995, Sterling was picked at halfback in a poll to judge the best Australian team since the introduction of the limited-tackle rule in 1967. He won eight of fourteen votes, with the remainder going to Billy Smith, Ricky Stuart
Ricky Stuart
Ricky Stuart is an Australian rugby league football coach and former player of the 1980s and 90s. He is currently the head coach of the New South Wales State of Origin team, having replaced Craig Bellamy following a fifth consecutive failure in the 2010 series...
and Allan Langer
Allan Langer
Allan "Alfie" Langer AM is an Australian former multi-award-winning rugby league footballer of the 1980s, 90s and 2000s who works as an assistant coach for the Australian national team and Brisbane Broncos...
.
In 2000 Sterling was awarded the Australian Sports Medal
Australian Sports Medal
The Australian Sports Medal was an award given during 2000 to recognise achievements in Australian sport.Recipients of the award included competitors, coaches, sports scientists, office holders, and people who maintained sporting facilities and services. Over 18,000 Medals were...
for his contribution to Australia's international standing in rugby league. In 2006, he was one of six past players to be inducted into the Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame
Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame
The Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame honors players who have shown exceptional skill at rugby league, all-time great coaches and referees, and other major contributors to the game who are Australian...
at the Dally M. Awards 2006 award ceremony.
In February 2008, Sterling was named in the list of Australia's 100 Greatest Players (1908–2007) which was commissioned by the NRL
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
and ARL
Australian Rugby League
The Australian Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in Australia. It is made up of state bodies, including the New South Wales Rugby League and the Queensland Rugby League...
to celebrate the code's centenary year in Australia.
Sources
- Whiticker, Alan and Hudson, Glen; The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players (3rd edition 1998); published Gary Allen Pty. Ltd.; Smithfield
- Middleton, David (editor); Rugby League 1987–88,(1988) Lester Townsend Publishing Pty Ltd; Paddington, NSW
- Middleton, David (editor); Rugby League 1996; (1996) HarperCollins Publishers, Pymble, Sydney