Steve Renouf
Encyclopedia
Stephen Renouf is an Australian former professional rugby league
footballer of the 1980s, 90s and 2000s. Of Aboriginal
and European descent, he was known as one of the sport's greatest centres. Renouf set numerous records
for the Brisbane Broncos
club and is considered one of the greatest footballers to have played for them. After spending eleven years with Brisbane, which yielded four premierships, he left Australia to play for English club Wigan Warriors
, where he spent two seasons before retiring. He has since been named in Australia's Indigenous team of the century (1908–2007).
. He scored his first try for the club in 1990
, and the following year went on to set a new club record of four tries in a home fixture and be the Broncos' top try scorer of the 1991 Brisbane Broncos season and 1992
(along with Allan Langer
) seasons. In 1992 the Broncos claimed their first premiership, winning Winfield Cup grand final against St. George. In the weeks following the grand final Renouf travelled with the Kangaroos to England for the 1992 World Cup
final. At Wembley Stadium
, the match set a record attendance for a rugby league international, with 73,631 seeing Renouf make his test debut. He scored the only try of the match, with Australia beating Great Britain
10–6. Also while in England Renouf played at centre for the Broncos in the 1992 World Club Challenge
against British champions Wigan
, helping Brisbane become the first NSWRL club to win the match in Britain.
The Broncos reached the 1993 Winfield Cup grand final
, again against the St. George Dragons
and again won it, claiming a second consecutive premiership.
On 23 April 1994 Renouf broke the club record for scoring the most tries in an away fixture by scoring four tries in the game against the Balmain Tigers
at the Optus Oval
. During the 1994 NSWRL season, Renouf played at centre for defending premiers Brisbane when they hosted British champions Wigan
for the 1994 World Club Challenge
. Also in 1994, Renouf scored the most tries in a season in the Broncos' history, leading the year's NSWRL premiership's try-scorers list, with 23 tries. At the end of the 1994 NSWRL season, he was selected to go on the 1994 Kangaroo tour
.
Renouf was the Broncos' top try-scorer in 1995
(along with Michael Hancock
), 1996
and 1999
.
Dubbed a 'try-scoring machine', in total Renouf scored four tries on five occasions:
In 1997
, Renouf scored 14 tries, which included a hat-trick
against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the 1997 Super League grand final on the 20th of September at ANZ Stadium
in Brisbane's 26–8 victory. He is still the all-time leading try scorer for the Brisbane Broncos, having amassed a total of 142 tries.
He played centre at for the Brisbane Broncos
in their win at the 1998 NRL grand final
.
against Whitehaven
at Central Park
. he scored two tries on debut in his side's mammoth 98–4 victory.
In 2000, Renouf was awarded the Australian Sports Medal
for his contribution to Australia's international standing in rugby league. His final game for the Wigan Warriors and indeed his last game at the highest level was the 2001 Super League Grand Final
on the 13 October at Old Trafford
in Manchester
. His side lost to the Bradford Bulls
by 37–6.
Upon his time at Wigan Warriors, Renouf quoted "The two years at Wigan were absolutely brilliant. I would have liked to stay but they didn’t want to retain me"
in the Queensland Cup
alongside former Broncos teammate Darren Smith.
During the 2007 season at the Broncos' 20-year anniversary celebration, the club announced a list of the 20 best players to play for them to date which included Renouf.
In August, 2008, Renouf was named at centre in the Indigenous Team of the Century.
. Renouf remembers that he "had been losing weight quite rapidly, [and] was always going to the toilet and though it was the start of pre-season, [he] had no energy, [he] couldn’t lift anything in the gym". He decided to go to the doctor and found out that he had the disease. According to Steve "diabetes is not all doom and gloom, you can live with it." His advice to young people who have diabetes is "Never think that it can stop you from achieving your goals. Just look after it, and you can achieve anything. I looked after it...I knew I had to if I wanted to keep playing football."
Outside of rugby league, Steve Renouf has an apprenticeship as an electrician and has also worked in the industry of sales and marketing. Steve is married and has five children, four sons and one daughter. Steve Renouf is currently working for the Get Active Queensland Schools Program which promotes physical activity amongst children.
Renouf is currently employed by Synectics edge, part of QR National
.
Since retirement, Renouf has worked as a sideline commentator for Triple M
's Blood, Sweat and Beers sports show.
In February 2006, a biography of Steve Renouf was released. Entitled The Pearl: Steve Renouf's Story, the book details his career as a rugby league player, but it also covers his early life, including his family heritage and his childhood in the Queensland town of Murgon. It also discusses how, as an Aborigine, he had to overcome prejudices from people around him.
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...
footballer of the 1980s, 90s and 2000s. Of Aboriginal
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
and European descent, he was known as one of the sport's greatest centres. Renouf set numerous records
Brisbane Broncos Records
The Brisbane Broncos rugby league football club has maintiained team and individual player records since they entered the Winfield Cup premiership in 1988...
for 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...
club and is considered one of the greatest footballers to have played for them. After spending eleven years with Brisbane, which yielded four premierships, he left Australia to play for English club Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
, where he spent two seasons before retiring. He has since been named in Australia's Indigenous team of the century (1908–2007).
Brisbane Broncos
Having developed his game with the Broncos since his teen years, Renouf made his debut in the first grade side in 1989Brisbane Broncos 1989
The 1989 Brisbane Broncos season was the second in the club's history. They competed in the NSWRL's 1989 Winfield Cup premiership and in their second year improved on their first, finishing the season in sixth position after losing their first ever play-off match against the Cronulla-Sutherland...
. He scored his first try for the club in 1990
Brisbane Broncos 1990
The 1990 Brisbane Broncos season was the third in the club's history. They competed in the NSWRL's 1990 Winfield Cup premiership and again improved on their previous year, finishing the regular season in second position before going on to come within one match of the grand final, losing to eventual...
, and the following year went on to set a new club record of four tries in a home fixture and be the Broncos' top try scorer of the 1991 Brisbane Broncos season and 1992
Brisbane Broncos 1992
The 1992 Brisbane Broncos season was the fifth in the club's history and they competed in the NSWRL's 1992 Winfield Cup premiership. Under new captain Allan Langer they finished the regular season 1st to claim their first minor premiership before going on to play in their first grand final and win,...
(along with 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...
) seasons. In 1992 the Broncos claimed their first premiership, winning Winfield Cup grand final against St. George. In the weeks following the grand final Renouf travelled with the Kangaroos to England for the 1992 World Cup
1989 - 1992 Rugby League World Cup
-1990:---------------------1991:-------------------------1992:----In addition to being a World Cup allocated match, this was the third and deciding test of the 1992 Ashes series....
final. At Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
, the match set a record attendance for a rugby league international, with 73,631 seeing Renouf make his test debut. He scored the only try of the match, with Australia beating Great Britain
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
10–6. Also while in England Renouf played at centre for the Broncos in the 1992 World Club Challenge
1992 World Club Challenge
The 1992 World Club Challenge match was contested by the 1991–92 Rugby Football League season champions Wigan and the 1992 NSWRL season's premiers, the Brisbane Broncos...
against British champions Wigan
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
, helping Brisbane become the first NSWRL club to win the match in Britain.
The Broncos reached the 1993 Winfield Cup grand final
Grand Final
Grand Final is a predominantly Australian sport term used to describe a match that decides a league champion.It originated in Victoria and South Australia and has become specifically significant Australian culture...
, again against the St. George Dragons
St. George Dragons
The St George Dragons was an Australian Rugby league football club in St George, Sydney, New South Wales that played in Australia's top-level Rugby league competition from New South Wales Rugby Football League in 1921 until 1998; in 1999 they formed a joint venture with the Illawarra Steelers,...
and again won it, claiming a second consecutive premiership.
On 23 April 1994 Renouf broke the club record for scoring the most tries in an away fixture by scoring four tries in the game against the Balmain Tigers
Balmain Tigers
The Balmain Tigers are a rugby league football club based in the inner-western Sydney suburb of Balmain. They were a founding member of the New South Wales Rugby League and one of the most successful in the history of the premiership, with eleven titles...
at the Optus Oval
MC Labour Park
Princes Park is an Australian rules football ground located at Princes Park in the inner Melbourne suburb of Carlton North, Victoria....
. During the 1994 NSWRL season, Renouf played at centre for defending premiers Brisbane when they hosted British champions Wigan
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
for the 1994 World Club Challenge
1994 World Club Challenge
The 1994 MMI World Club Challenge was a replay of the 1992 World Club Challenge, with 1993–94 Rugby Football League season champions Wigan facing the 1993 NSWRL season premiers, the Brisbane Broncos, this time in Australia. Wigan were clearly the dominant club in the English game, having won the...
. Also in 1994, Renouf scored the most tries in a season in the Broncos' history, leading the year's NSWRL premiership's try-scorers list, with 23 tries. At the end of the 1994 NSWRL season, he was selected to go on the 1994 Kangaroo tour
1994 Kangaroo Tour
The 1994 Kangaroo Tour was the last played in the conventional format, where the Australian side plays a number of matches against British and French clubs or provincial outfits, in additions to the Test matches...
.
Renouf was the Broncos' top try-scorer 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...
(along with Michael Hancock
Michael Hancock (rugby league)
Michael John "Mick" Hancock is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1980s, 90s and 2000s. An Australian international and Queensland State of Origin representative winger, he played in the Brisbane Broncos' 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th grand final victories...
), 1996
Brisbane Broncos 1996
The 1996 Brisbane Broncos season was the ninth in the club's history. They competed in the Australian Rugby League's 1996 Optus Cup premiership and finished the regular season in second place on the ladder, progressing as far as the semi-finals....
and 1999
Brisbane Broncos 1999
The 1999 Brisbane Broncos season was the twelfth in the club's history. They competed in the NRL's 1999 premiership, reaching the finals but losing their first play-off match.-Season summary:...
.
Dubbed a 'try-scoring machine', in total Renouf scored four tries on five occasions:
- vs North Sydney BearsNorth Sydney BearsThe North Sydney Bears are an Australian rugby league football club based in North Sydney, New South Wales. They currently compete in the New South Wales Cup, having exited the National Rugby League following the 1999 NRL season after 92 years of top-grade competition. The Bears are based on...
, 9 August 1991 - vs Canterbury BulldogsCanterbury BulldogsThe 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...
, 25 July 1993 - vs Balmain TigersBalmain TigersThe Balmain Tigers are a rugby league football club based in the inner-western Sydney suburb of Balmain. They were a founding member of the New South Wales Rugby League and one of the most successful in the history of the premiership, with eleven titles...
, 23 April 1994 - vs Auckland WarriorsNew Zealand WarriorsThe New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
, 27 August 1995 - vs Penrith PanthersPenrith PanthersThe Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia. For the 2012 NRL season they will be coached by Ivan...
, 28 March 1997
In 1997
Brisbane Broncos 1997
The 1997 Brisbane Broncos season was the tenth in the club's history. This season was unique in that they participated in the Australian Super League's 1997 Telstra Cup premiership and 1997 World Club Championship, winning both competitions.-Season summary:...
, Renouf scored 14 tries, which included a hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the 1997 Super League grand final on the 20th of September at ANZ Stadium
Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre
The Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre , more commonly known by its former names ANZ Stadium or QE II, is a major sporting facility on the south side of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia...
in Brisbane's 26–8 victory. He is still the all-time leading try scorer for the Brisbane Broncos, having amassed a total of 142 tries.
He played centre at for 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 their win at the 1998 NRL grand final
1998 NRL grand final
The 1998 NRL grand final was the conclusive and premiership-deciding game of the 1998 NRL season. It was the first grand final since the National Rugby League's formation and featured minor premiers and the previous year's Super League premiers, the Brisbane Broncos against the Canterbury Bulldogs,...
.
Wigan Warriors
Renouf's Wigan Warriors debut came in round four of the Challenge CupChallenge 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....
against Whitehaven
Whitehaven RLFC
Whitehaven RLFC is a rugby league club playing in Whitehaven in West Cumbria. They play in Co-operative Championship. Their stadium is called the Recreation Ground...
at Central Park
Central Park, Plymouth
Plymouth's Central Park is a large centralised park situated to the north of Plymouth city centre in south west Devon, England, stretching north from the train station to Pounds House, Peverell and west from Ford Park Cemetery to the A386 .Central Park is trust land, which explains why it has not...
. he scored two tries on debut in his side's mammoth 98–4 victory.
In 2000, Renouf 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. His final game for the Wigan Warriors and indeed his last game at the highest level was the 2001 Super League Grand Final
2001 Super League Grand Final
The 2001 Super League Grand Final was held on Saturday 13 October 2001, at Old Trafford, Manchester, UK. The game was contested by Bradford Bulls and Wigan Warriors.Referee: Stuart Cummings Attendance: 60,164...
on the 13 October at Old Trafford
Old Trafford (football)
Old Trafford is a football stadium in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, England, and the home of Manchester United. With a capacity of 75,811, Old Trafford is the second-largest football stadium in England after Wembley, the third-largest in the United Kingdom and the eleventh-largest in Europe...
in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
. His side lost to the 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....
by 37–6.
Upon his time at Wigan Warriors, Renouf quoted "The two years at Wigan were absolutely brilliant. I would have liked to stay but they didn’t want to retain me"
Back in Australia
Following his return to Australia he continued playing football for EastsEasts 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 the Queensland Cup
Queensland Cup
The Queensland Cup is the premier rugby league football competition in the State of Queensland, Australia.It is a statewide competition with the majority of teams based in South East Queensland but also including sides based in Cairns, Mackay and Rockhampton.The competition began in 1996 as a...
alongside former Broncos teammate Darren Smith.
During the 2007 season at the Broncos' 20-year anniversary celebration, the club announced a list of the 20 best players to play for them to date which included Renouf.
In August, 2008, Renouf was named at centre in the Indigenous Team of the Century.
Life off the field
At the age of 23, six years after signing with the Brisbane Broncos, Steve Renouf was diagnosed with type 1 diabetesDiabetes mellitus type 1
Diabetes mellitus type 1 is a form of diabetes mellitus that results from autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas. The subsequent lack of insulin leads to increased blood and urine glucose...
. Renouf remembers that he "had been losing weight quite rapidly, [and] was always going to the toilet and though it was the start of pre-season, [he] had no energy, [he] couldn’t lift anything in the gym". He decided to go to the doctor and found out that he had the disease. According to Steve "diabetes is not all doom and gloom, you can live with it." His advice to young people who have diabetes is "Never think that it can stop you from achieving your goals. Just look after it, and you can achieve anything. I looked after it...I knew I had to if I wanted to keep playing football."
Outside of rugby league, Steve Renouf has an apprenticeship as an electrician and has also worked in the industry of sales and marketing. Steve is married and has five children, four sons and one daughter. Steve Renouf is currently working for the Get Active Queensland Schools Program which promotes physical activity amongst children.
Renouf is currently employed by Synectics edge, part of QR National
QR National
QR National Limited is the largest rail freight company in Australia and was formerly owned by the Queensland Government. It was created as an independent company on 1 July 2010 when transport and logistics company QR Limited was split into two companies...
.
Since retirement, Renouf has worked as a sideline commentator for 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 :...
's Blood, Sweat and Beers sports show.
Quotations
"Getting (Renouf) to training was a defining moment, then getting him to finish was another. We named the hill after him because he spent so much time sitting on it." Wayne Bennett, Brisbane Broncos coach
External links
- Steve Renouf at wiganwarriors.com
- Steve Renouf Wigan Career Page on the Wigan RL Fansite.