Steve Walters

Steve Walters
Personal information
Full name Steven Walters
Nickname Boxhead[1]
Born (1965-08-28) 28 August 1965
Ipswich, Queensland, Australia
Playing information
Height 176 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Position Hooker
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
Booval Swifts
198?–8? Norths (Brisbane)
1986–96 Canberra Raiders 228 41 0 0 164
1997–98 Nth. Qld. Cowboys 37 6 0 0 24
1999 Newcastle Knights 7 2 0 0 8
Total 272 49 0 0 196
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1990–96 Queensland 14 1 0 0 4
1991–94 Australia 15 4 0 0 16
1997 Queensland (SL) 3 0 0 0 0
1997 Australia (SL) 3 1 0 0 4
Source: Rugby League Project, Yesterday's Hero, QRL.com.au

Steve Walters (born 28 August 1965) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 1990s 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 (Kerrod and Kevin), but was the last of them to gain Australian Test selection honours.

Playing career

Walters was born in Ipswich, Queensland where he also started his playing career for the Booval club. He then played in the Brisbane Rugby League for the Norths club. In 1986 Walters made his Winfield Cup debut with the Canberra Raiders. He played for Canberra at hooker in the 1987 NSWRL season's grand final loss to the Manly Sea Eagles alongside his brother Kevin. Walters played for Canberra at hooker in the 1989 NSWRL season's first ever premiership victory over the Balmain Tigers alongside his brother Kevin as well. He then traveled with the Raiders to England for the 1989 World Club Challenge, playing hooker in their loss to British champions, Widnes.

Walters was selected by Queensland to play at hooker for game I of the 1990 State of Origin series, being replaced by his brother Kerrod for games II and III. Walters played in the 1990 NSWRL season's grand final at hooker in the Raiders' victory over the Penrith Panthers. Walters was selected as Queensland's hooker for all three games of the 1991 State of Origin series, being named man-of-the-match in game II. He was then selected as Australia's hooker for all three games of the 1991 Trans-Tasman Test series against New Zealand. The Canberra Raiders reached the 1991 NSWRL season's grand final and Walters played at hooker in the loss to the Penrith Panthers.

Walters was selected as Queensland's hooker for all three games of the 1992 State of Origin series. He was then selected as Australia's hooker for all three of the 1992 Great Britain Lions tour of Australasia's Ashes Tests alongside his brother Kevin. Walters played in Australia's 1989–1992 Rugby League World Cup Final victory at hooker and was named man-of-the-match. Walters was selected as Queensland's hooker for all three games of the 1993 State of Origin series. He was then selected as Australia's hooker for all three games of the 1993 Trans-Tasman Test series. For the 1993 NSWRL season Walters was named Rugby League Week's player of the year.

Walters was selected to play for Queensland at hooker in games I and III of the 1994 State of Origin series. He was then selected as Australia's hooker for the 1994 French rugby league Oceania tour's sole test match. alters, with the Canberra Raiders, reached the 1994 NSWRL season's Grand Final, in which he played at hooker in the victory over the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. During the 1994 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France Walters played all three Ashes Tests at hooker alongside his brother, Kevin Walters at five-eighth. Steve was also man-of-the-match in Australia's victory over Great Britain in the third and deciding match of the series.

Due to the Super League War Walters, along with many of his Canberra team-mates, was a notable exclusion from the 1995 State of Origin series, 1995 Trans-Tasman Test series and 1995 Rugby League World Cup. He was selected by Queensland to play at hooker in games II and III of the 1996 State of Origin series. 1996 was his last season with Canberra before moving to the North Queensland Cowboys. During the 1997 North Queensland Cowboys season Steve Walters captained 8 games. He played another season in Townsville before a final season with the Newcastle Knights in 1999.

Retirement

At first contemplating retirement after the Cowboys baulked at extending his contract , Walters signed with the Newcastle Knights 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.[2][3]

References

  1. ↑ Buckley, James (21 July 2010). "'Boxhead' stands by old mate 'Sticky'". The Canberra Times. Fairfax Media. p. Australia. Retrieved 11 October 2010.
  2. ↑ Peter Cassidy (22 February 2008). "Controversy reigns as NRL releases top 100 players". Macquarie National News. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  3. ↑ "Centenary of Rugby League – The Players". NRL & ARL. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
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