Steve Roach (rugby league footballer)

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Steve Roach (born April 24, 1962, Sydney, Australia), known as "Blocker" to fans, was an Australian rugby league prop forward of the 1980s and early 1990s. Known for his aggressive approach and powerful running close to the rucks, Roach was at his peak probably the number one prop in world rugby league, but he was also notorious for frequent controversial behaviour on the field, which went so far as to made state and national selectors wary of him.

Though he was born in Sydney, Steve Roach played his early rugby league for Wollongong Wests and was only signed by Balmain in 1982. He quickly advanced to first grade and was by 1983, when Balmain made the semi-finals for the first time since 1977, mentioned as a contender for representative honours, which first came his way in 1984. By this time, his tremendously solid and stocky build (he was only 178cm or 5 feet 10 tall but had some of the largest hands of any player in the game) made him a bull-like runner up the middle who possessed excellent offloading skills that frequently gave team-mates tries or long breaks. In 1985, Roach played his first Test match against New Zealand and the following year, continued excellent performances for Balmain made him a certainty for the Kangaroo tour, on which he played ten games.

1987 was almost completely wiped out for Roach due to a serious knee injury, and though he returned to excellent form in 1988 he was not chosen for any State of Origin games despite New South Wales being whitewashed by Queensland. Then, Roach was cited for a tackle on Penrith's Chris Mortimer and was suspened for four weeks, missing the 1988 finals. Numerous sin-binnings made state selectors unwilling to risk Roach the following year - a decision that almost certainly did not pay off New South Wales were again whitewashed 3 matches to nil. However, his powerful performances, alongside Paul Sironen, Benny Elias and Wayne Pearce in one of the strongest packs in club rugby league, made him a certainty for the New Zealand tour. After returning to Balmain, Roach consistently dominated opposing forwards and, apart from a draw with Manly, Balmain won every match up to the major semi-final. However, after having (luckily) led 12 points to 2 in the Grand Final, Roach was controversially replaced by coach Warren Ryan and Canberra overpowered Balmain with his strikepower gone.

Roach's form for Balmain and New South Wales showed him to be the best prop in the game as well as his reputation as one of the prime "bad boys" of rugby league. In a well-documented game back in 1990 playing against Manly at Brookvale Oval, he received a controversial four-week suspension for backchatting the referee at the time, Eddie Ward, who was subsequently patted on the head as Roach was given his marching orders. He was impressive on the following Kangaroo tour, but in 1991 showed some decline despite his experience being vital to the improvement of a reorganised Balmain side after a shocking start: he lost his Test place and, despite gaining a late call-up for the Papua New Guinea tour, he broke his ankle. This almost ended his career, for in 1992 he never regained his form (along with a chronic rugby league knee injury) despite surprisingly (given his poor tribunal record) being not cited for a questionable tackle.

By the end of the 1992 rugby league season Roach had written a controversial autobiography, Doing My Block and had became a commentator with Channel 9 as well as The Footy Show and optus, where he was to remain for the rest of his career in rugby league. After a disagreement with fellow Channel 9 commentators Paul Vautin and Peter Sterling, he was sacked by the network, and was signed by then rugby league broadcaster 2UE, before moving to 2GB along with Ray Hadley and his Continuous Call Team. He has recently reappeared on television, appearing on the Seven Network's Sportsworld. Blocker also carved his niche in the supermodelling world by spruiking and modelling extra large menswear at Lowes on radio, TV and catalogues.

After a 3 year stint as assistant coach with Manly, Roach decided to wear his heart on his sleeve by being appointed in the coaching committee with his beloved Tigers - now the Wests Tigers.

Roach is married to Kathy and also has 3 talented children. Daniel is playing rugby union and represented the Australian Schoolboys. He has signed a 2-year contract with the Waratahs. While Liam is a chip of the old Blocker by pursuing a career in rugby league and signed up to play with his father's beloved Tigers.

[edit] External links

• Whiticker, Alan and Hudson, Glen; The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players (3rd edition); published 1998 by Gary Allen Pty. Ltd.; 9 Cooper Street, Smithfield, New South Wales, 2164.
• Roach, Steve with Ray Chesterton; Doing My Block; published 1992 by Ironbark Press.