Steve Edge (rugby league)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Steve Edge
1979_edge_1a.jpg
Personal information
Full name Steven Edge
Place of birth , Australia
Nickname(s) Sledge hammer
Club information
Position(s) Hooker
Current club Parramatta Eels
Senior clubs*
Years Club Apps (points)
1972–1979
1980–1984
St. George Dragons
Parramatta Eels
103 (45)
118 (61)
Representative teams
1980 New South Wales Origin
1 (0)

* Professional club appearances and points
counted for domestic first grade only.

Steve Edge is an Australian former rugby league player for the St. George Dragons and Parramatta Eels and also for New South Wales Origin. His position of choice was at hooker.

Regarded as one of the most successful captains under the limited tackle rule, Steve Edge played in a remakable eleven grand finals in all grades during his career. He holds a unique record in Australian rugby league history as the only man to captain two different clubs to Grand Final premiership success.

[edit] Club career

Edge was graded with the St George Dragons in 1972 and that year played in the club's premiership winning third grade side.

He became a regular first grader from 1974 and played in the 1975 Grand Final side that lost to the Eastern Suburbs Roosters. Edge captained the 1977 Dragons' side, playing in the historic 1977 drawn Grand Final and subsequent replay victory the following week. Edge battled for his first grade spot in 1978 and 1979 but found his best form to play in Saints' 1979 Grand Final winning side captained by Craig Young.

In 1980 Edge signed with the Parramatta Eels under coach Jack Gibson and captained the Eels to three consecutive Grand Final wins from 1981 to 1983. Edge was regarded as a fine on-field leader, never an overly flashy player with the ball. He had to overcome a serious eye injury (detached retina and punctured iris) to take his place in the 1984 Grand Final and retired after his club’s narrow 6-4 loss to the Canterbury Bulldogs.

[edit] Representative career

Edge toured New Zealand with a Combined Sydney side in 1976. He was selected as New South Wales Hooker in the inaugural Rugby League State of Origin of 1980.

[edit] Links and references