Steele Retchless
Encyclopedia
Steele Retchless is an Australian retired professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. He previously played for the Brisbane Broncos
and London Broncos, primarily in the second row. Retchless played his last game for Easts Tigers
in a Queensland Wizard Cup preliminary final defeat to Redcliffe Dolphins
in 2006.
player Mick Retchless. He played his junior football for Fortitude Valley Diehards
and made his senior debut for the club in 1991. In 1993, Retchless switched to Wests Panthers
contesting successive finals and winning the Brisbane Rugby League premiership
in his first year at the club.
Retchless joined first grade Australian Rugby League
premiership side the Brisbane Broncos
in 1995
. During a two-year contract he made just 11 appearances. In 1997, Retchless moved to the South Queensland Crushers
and participated in 22 matches. The Crushers picked up a second successive wooden spoon
and folded at the end of the season.
for the London Broncos. During seven seasons at the club, Retchless set a club record number of appearances. In 1998 against Bradford Bulls
, he made a Super League record of 66 tackles in a game. That season he was named in the Super League Dream Team
.
In 1999, Retchless scored a memorable last minute try in the Challenge Cup
semi-final to earn the London Broncos a place in their first ever final. In his final season at the club, 2004, Retchless was awarded Player of the Year.
in 2005. After finishing that season as a leading contender for the Qantas
Player of the Year, Retchless played a season for Easts Tigers
in 2006. Easts made the finals but were subsequently beaten by Redcliffe
in the major Semi-Final, with Redcliffe going on to win the premiership. Retchless won the Player of the Year award for Easts Tigers and also Best Forward in his final season.
Retchless is currently on the coaching staff at Easts Tigers alongside former International Darren Smith.
through his grandfather, Stuart Beck, who was raised in Iowa, and his mother who was born in Washington DC. Beck arrived in Australia from the United States, captaining his adopted homeland in the sport of baseball
.
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
and London Broncos, primarily in the second row. Retchless played his last game for Easts Tigers
Easts Tigers
The Eastern Suburbs Tigers are a rugby league club based at Langlands Park, which is in the suburb of Coorparoo in Brisbane, Australia. They competed in the Brisbane Rugby League from 1934 to 1996. From 1996 they have competed in the Queensland Cup. Their jersey is traditionally an all gold jersey...
in a Queensland Wizard Cup preliminary final defeat to Redcliffe Dolphins
Redcliffe Dolphins
The Redcliffe Dolphins are a rugby league team from the city of Redcliffe in Queensland, Australia. The Redcliffe Dolphins were founded in 1947, accepted into the Brisbane Rugby League premiership in 1960, and since 1996 have played in the Queensland Cup....
in 2006.
Early years
Steele Retchless is the son of former Brisbane Rugby LeagueBrisbane A-Grade Rugby League
The FOGS Cup is an 11 team competition that is the level below the Queensland Cup. It started in 2001, then known as the Quest Cup and changed its name to the Mixwell Cup in 2003. Finally it became the FOGS Cup in 2006...
player Mick Retchless. He played his junior football for Fortitude Valley Diehards
Fortitude Valley Diehards
The Fortitude Valley Diehards were an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Brisbane suburb of Fortitude Valley.-History:...
and made his senior debut for the club in 1991. In 1993, Retchless switched to Wests Panthers
Wests Panthers
The Western Suburbs Panthers, often simply referred to as Wests, are a rugby league club from Brisbane, Australia. The Club is the oldest in the QRL and despite absences from the top grade in recent years and several name changes the club continued to operate...
contesting successive finals and winning the Brisbane Rugby League premiership
Brisbane Rugby League premiership (rugby league competition)
The Brisbane Rugby League premiership was a rugby league football competition held in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia from 1922 to 1997. Prior to 1922, the competition was conducted under the auspices of the Queensland Rugby League. Until the 1980s it was the premier sporting competition in...
in his first year at the club.
Retchless joined first grade Australian Rugby League
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...
premiership side the Brisbane Broncos
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
in 1995
Brisbane Broncos 1995
The 1995 Brisbane Broncos season was the eighth in the club's history. They competed in the Australian Rugby League's 1995 Winfield Cup premiership, finishing in the regular season 3rd and making it to the semi-finals before being knocked out by eventual premiers, the Canterbury-Bankstown...
. During a two-year contract he made just 11 appearances. In 1997, Retchless moved to the South Queensland Crushers
South Queensland Crushers
The South Queensland Crushers were an Australian rugby league football club based in Brisbane, Queensland. In 1992 it was decided that the team would be admitted into the New South Wales Rugby League competition, along with three other teams, as part of the League's expansion plans for professional...
and participated in 22 matches. The Crushers picked up a second successive wooden spoon
Wooden spoon (award)
A wooden spoon is a mock or real award, usually given to an individual or team which has come last in a competition, but sometimes also to runners-up. Examples range from the academic to sporting and more frivolous events...
and folded at the end of the season.
London Broncos
The collapse of the Crushers presented an opportunity to play in Britain's Super LeagueSuper League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
for the London Broncos. During seven seasons at the club, Retchless set a club record number of appearances. In 1998 against Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls is a professional rugby league club based in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. They play in the European Super League and are currently joint 10th in the league....
, he made a Super League record of 66 tackles in a game. That season he was named in the Super League Dream Team
Super League Dream Team
The Super League Dream Team is an award given each season to the players deemed to have been the best in their position in the Super League by a panel of journalists and broadcasters....
.
In 1999, Retchless scored a memorable last minute try in the 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....
semi-final to earn the London Broncos a place in their first ever final. In his final season at the club, 2004, Retchless was awarded Player of the Year.
Post-Broncos career and retirement
After his time in London, Retchless returned to Australia to play in the Queensland Wizard Cup for Ipswich JetsIpswich Jets
The Ipswich Jets are an Australian rugby league football club based in Ipswich, Queensland.Their name comes from nearby RAAF Base Amberley, one of the largest airbases in Australia. The Jets compete in the Queensland Cup competition...
in 2005. After finishing that season as a leading contender for the Qantas
Qantas
Qantas Airways Limited is the flag carrier of Australia. The name was originally "QANTAS", an initialism for "Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services". Nicknamed "The Flying Kangaroo", the airline is based in Sydney, with its main hub at Sydney Airport...
Player of the Year, Retchless played a season for Easts Tigers
Easts Tigers
The Eastern Suburbs Tigers are a rugby league club based at Langlands Park, which is in the suburb of Coorparoo in Brisbane, Australia. They competed in the Brisbane Rugby League from 1934 to 1996. From 1996 they have competed in the Queensland Cup. Their jersey is traditionally an all gold jersey...
in 2006. Easts made the finals but were subsequently beaten by Redcliffe
Redcliffe Dolphins
The Redcliffe Dolphins are a rugby league team from the city of Redcliffe in Queensland, Australia. The Redcliffe Dolphins were founded in 1947, accepted into the Brisbane Rugby League premiership in 1960, and since 1996 have played in the Queensland Cup....
in the major Semi-Final, with Redcliffe going on to win the premiership. Retchless won the Player of the Year award for Easts Tigers and also Best Forward in his final season.
Retchless is currently on the coaching staff at Easts Tigers alongside former International Darren Smith.
Career highlights
- Junior Clubs: Fortitude Valley DiehardsFortitude Valley DiehardsThe Fortitude Valley Diehards were an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Brisbane suburb of Fortitude Valley.-History:...
- Senior Clubs: Fortitude Valley DiehardsFortitude Valley DiehardsThe Fortitude Valley Diehards were an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Brisbane suburb of Fortitude Valley.-History:...
, Western Suburbs PanthersWests PanthersThe Western Suburbs Panthers, often simply referred to as Wests, are a rugby league club from Brisbane, Australia. The Club is the oldest in the QRL and despite absences from the top grade in recent years and several name changes the club continued to operate...
, Brisbane BroncosBrisbane BroncosThe Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
, South Queensland CrushersSouth Queensland CrushersThe South Queensland Crushers were an Australian rugby league football club based in Brisbane, Queensland. In 1992 it was decided that the team would be admitted into the New South Wales Rugby League competition, along with three other teams, as part of the League's expansion plans for professional...
, London Broncos , Ipswich JetsIpswich JetsThe Ipswich Jets are an Australian rugby league football club based in Ipswich, Queensland.Their name comes from nearby RAAF Base Amberley, one of the largest airbases in Australia. The Jets compete in the Queensland Cup competition...
, Eastern Suburbs Tigers - First Grade Stats: 143 career games in QLD Comp (Approx.) 235 career games in ARL & English Super League scoring 21 tries, including a club record 202 games for London Broncos.
- Most tackles made in any Super League Match: 66 by Steele Retchless (against Bradford in 1998. This is an all-time Super League record).
Representative games
Retchless qualified to play for the USA TomahawksUnited States national rugby league team
-2008 & 2013 Rugby League World Cup Qualifying:In October 2006, The Tomahawks were to participate in a four team Atlantic qualifying pool for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup, but South Africa and the West Indies withdrew. As a result, The Atlantic qualifying pool was reduced to a single game...
through his grandfather, Stuart Beck, who was raised in Iowa, and his mother who was born in Washington DC. Beck arrived in Australia from the United States, captaining his adopted homeland in the sport of baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
.