Steve Walters
Encyclopedia
Steve Walters is an Australian former professional rugby league
footballer of the 1980s and 90s, who at the peak of his career, was considered the best hooker in the game. An Australian Kangaroos and Queensland Maroons representative, he played in the Canberra Raiders
' 1st, 2nd and 3rd grand final victories. Steve is the eldest of the three Walters brothers, but was the last of them to gain Australian Test selection honours.
, unlike his younger brothers Kerrod
and Kevin
who played in their hometown of Ipswich
alongside Allan Langer
.
After moving to the Raiders and achieving back-to-back grand final wins in 1989 and 1990, many believed that Test selection should have come to Walters. It did come, belatedly, in the 1991 Trans-Tasman Test series. But this was at the expense of his brother Kerrod who lost his representative position due to being suspended. Steve Walters out-pointed New South Wales captain Ben Elias on the scores of consistency and reliability in the open and was one of Australia's best players in the series win against the Kiwis
. He was also named man-of-the-match in the second game of the 1991 State of Origin series. Despite Canberra's loss in that year's grand final, Walters was named the Raiders' player of the year and also earned a place on the Australian Tour of Papua New Guinea
, but did not play a match as he was injured at training.
During the 1992 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand, Walters helped Australia retain The Ashes. The Walters brothers had already become the first trio to play for Queensland and Australia when, that year, they achieved another milestone when all three were selected to tour with the winning World Cup squad. In 1993 Walters was named as Rugby League Week
s player of the year.
Canberra's win in the 1994 grand final, and Walters' performances for Queensland and Australia, confirmed his reputation as the best dummy-half runner in the world. Despite the good form of Ben Elias in New South Wales' State of Origin
wins in 1993–94, Walters retained his place on the 1994 Kangaroo tour
and produced a man-of-the-match effort in the deciding Test of the Ashes series.
After a decade with the Raiders, Walters joined former coach Tim Sheens
at the North Queensland Cowboys
but despite representing Queensland and Australia during 1997's Super League competition
, his two seasons at Townsville
were hampered by a career-threatening back injury.
In the 1997 post season, Walters was selected to play for Australia at hooker in all three matches of the Super League Test series
against Great Britain
.
in 1999 but was forced to retire midway through the season due to a recurring knee injury.
In 2000 Steve was awarded the Australian Sports Medal
for his contribution to Australia's international standing in the sport of rugby league. In February 2008, Walters 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.
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 and 90s, who at the peak of his career, was considered the best hooker in the game. An Australian Kangaroos and Queensland Maroons representative, he played in the Canberra Raiders
Canberra Raiders
The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982...
' 1st, 2nd and 3rd grand final victories. Steve is the eldest of the three Walters brothers, but was the last of them to gain Australian Test selection honours.
Playing career
Steven played originally for Brisbane NorthsNorths Devils
The Northern Suburbs Devils, Norths for short, are a rugby league club representing the northern suburbs of Brisbane, Australia. The team colours are sky blue, navy blue and gold. They play in the Queensland Wizard Cup, and, through their predecessors, are one of the oldest clubs in...
, unlike his younger brothers Kerrod
Kerrod Walters
Kerrod Walters is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s. A Queensland State of Origin and Australian international representative hooker, he played most of his club football with the Brisbane Broncos, with whom he won the 1992 and 1993 NSWRL Premierships...
and Kevin
Kevin Walters
Kevin David Walters is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player. He is currently the assistant coach for NRL club Melbourne Storm. He joined them from French club Catalans Dragons of Europe's Super League as their head coach. Before that he was head coach of the...
who played in their hometown of Ipswich
Ipswich, Queensland
Ipswich is a city in South-East Queensland, Australia. Situated along the Bremer River Valley approximately 40 kilometres away from the state's capital Brisbane. The suburb by the same name forms the city's Central Business District and administrative centre...
alongside 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...
.
After moving to the Raiders and achieving back-to-back grand final wins in 1989 and 1990, many believed that Test selection should have come to Walters. It did come, belatedly, in the 1991 Trans-Tasman Test series. But this was at the expense of his brother Kerrod who lost his representative position due to being suspended. Steve Walters out-pointed New South Wales captain Ben Elias on the scores of consistency and reliability in the open and was one of Australia's best players in the series win against the Kiwis
New Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
. He was also named man-of-the-match in the second game of the 1991 State of Origin series. Despite Canberra's loss in that year's grand final, Walters was named the Raiders' player of the year and also earned a place on the Australian Tour of Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
, but did not play a match as he was injured at training.
During the 1992 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand, Walters helped Australia retain The Ashes. The Walters brothers had already become the first trio to play for Queensland and Australia when, that year, they achieved another milestone when all three were selected to tour with the winning World Cup squad. In 1993 Walters was named as Rugby League Week
Rugby League Week
Rugby League Week is the second highest selling Australian rugby league magazine, behind major competitor Big League...
s player of the year.
Canberra's win in the 1994 grand final, and Walters' performances for Queensland and Australia, confirmed his reputation as the best dummy-half runner in the world. Despite the good form of Ben Elias in New South Wales' State of Origin
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...
wins in 1993–94, Walters retained his place 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...
and produced a man-of-the-match effort in the deciding Test of the Ashes series.
After a decade with the Raiders, Walters joined former coach Tim Sheens
Tim Sheens
Tim Sheens is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player. He currently coaches the Wests Tigers of the National Rugby League and in 2009 was appointed coach of the Australian national team, the Kangaroos...
at the North Queensland Cowboys
North Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
but despite representing Queensland and Australia during 1997's Super League competition
Super League (Australia) season 1997
The 1997 Super League season was the 90th season of professional rugby league football in Australia and the first and only to be run by the News Limited-controlled Super League organisation...
, his two seasons at Townsville
Townsville, Queensland
Townsville is a city on the north-eastern coast of Australia, in the state of Queensland. Adjacent to the central section of the Great Barrier Reef, it is in the dry tropics region of Queensland. Townsville is Australia's largest urban centre north of the Sunshine Coast, with a 2006 census...
were hampered by a career-threatening back injury.
In the 1997 post season, Walters was selected to play for Australia at hooker in all three matches of the Super League Test series
Super League Test series
The Super League Test series was a three-Test match series between the Great Britain national rugby league team and Super League's Australian national team held during November 1997 in England...
against 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"....
.
Retirement
At first contemplating retirement after the Cowboys baulked at extending his contract, Walters signed with the Newcastle KnightsNewcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
in 1999 but was forced to retire midway through the season due to a recurring knee injury.
In 2000 Steve 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 the sport of rugby league. In February 2008, Walters was named in the list of Australia's 100 Greatest Players
Australian Rugby League's 100 Greatest Players
In late 2007, the Australian Rugby League and National Rugby League commissioned 130 experts to select the 100 best rugby league players in the game's 100-year history in Australia. From this list , a limited panel of experts picked a the "Team of the Century" - a team of 17 players considered to...
(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.