Mike Stephenson

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Mike Stephenson is the popular Sky Sports rugby league presenter. Nicknamed Stevo, Stephenson is an ex-Great Britain international who played at club level for English club Dewsbury and Australian side Penrith.

He was part of Great Britain's victorious World Cup winning side in 1972.

Stephenson left Dewsbury after their championship winning season in 1973 to join Australian Rugby League outfit Penrith. He played 69 games for the Panthers 1974-78, scoring 21 tries.

Stevo joined the defunct UK satellite broadcaster BSB as a match summariser for its Rugby League coverage at its launch in 1990. At BSB, he formed the now legendary commentary double act with Eddie Hemmings. The pairing were kept together when BSB and Sky Television merged to form BSkyB; the combined satellite TV network inherited BSB's rugby league TV contract.

Stevo was a massive supporter of the creation of Super League, the elite northern hemisphere club rugby league competition which started in the English spring of 1996.

Eddie & Stevo are still the main presenters and commentators on Sky Sports' Super League coverage; they are arguably one of the most popular sports commentary teams on British television. Many viewers are drawn to Stevo's sometimes irrational and controversial opinions on matches and the sport in general.

Stevo still has connections with Australia, he lives in Sydney during the Super League off-season.

[edit] Some of Stevo's catchphrases during his summaries

  • "..he has put his body on the line..."
  • "..its T-R-Y time, for mine!"
  • "..he's got a bit of claret on his nose.."
  • "..time to play some Rugby League football.."
  • "..why didn't he go for the one-pointer?"
  • "..the merry whistle-blower is at it again.."
  • "..they gotta play better in the second stanza."
  • "..its 'up-the-jumper' time!"
  • "..the ball took a wicked bounce!"
  • "..the supporters are going bananas!"
  • "..I'll put the house on it... AND the swimming pool... AND the push chair!"
  • "..It's a knockonathon!"
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