Steele Retchless

Infobox rugby league biography
playername = Steele Retchless
fullname = Steele Retchless
nickname = Steelo


caption =
country =
position = Second Row
currentclub = Easts Tigers
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1971|6|16
placeofbirth = Brisbane, Queensland
countryofbirth = Australia
height = 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
weight = 15 st 9 lbs (100 kg)
club1 = Brisbane Broncos
year1start = 1995
year1end = 1996
appearances1 = 11
tries1 =
goals1 =
fieldgoals1 =
points1 = 4
club2 = South Queensland
year2start = 1997
year2end =
appearances2 = 22
tries2 =
goals2 =
fieldgoals2 =
points2 = 12
club3 = London Broncos
year3start = 1998
year3end = 2004
appearances3 = 202
tries3 =
goals3 =
fieldgoals3 =
points3 = 64
club4 = Ipswich Jets
year4start = 2005
year4end =
appearances4 = 16
tries4 =
goals4 =
fieldgoals4 =
points4 = 8
club5 = Easts Tigers
year5start = 2006
year5end =
appearances5 = 17
tries5 =
goals5 =
fieldgoals5 =
points5 = 4
teamA = USA
yearAstart = 2000
yearAend = 2005
appearancesA = 4
triesA =
goalsA =
fieldgoalsA =
pointsA = 16
updated = 19:47, 25 August 2006 (UTC)
source =
new = yes

Steele Retchless (born June 16, 1971 in Brisbane, Queensland) is an Australian former rugby league player. A former player for the Brisbane Broncos and London Broncos, his position of choice was Second Row. Steele played his last game for Easts Tigers in a Queensland Wizard Cup preliminary final defeat to Redcliffe Dolphins on September 9, 2006.

Playing career

Early years

Son of Brisbane Rugby League legend Mick Retchless, Steele played his junior football for Fortitude Valley Diehards and made his senior debut for the club in 1991. In 1993, Steele switched to Wests Panthers contesting successive finals and winning the Brisbane Rugby League premiership in his first year at the club.

Steele joined first grade Australian Rugby League premiership side the Brisbane Broncos in 1995. During a two-year contract he made just 11 appearances. In 1997, Steele was ever present, making 22 appearances for the South Queensland Crushers. Unfortunately, the Crushers picked up a second successive wooden spoon and folded at the end of the season.

London Broncos

The collapse of the Crushers presented an opportunity to play in Super League (Europe) for the London Broncos where Steele was to become a legend. During seven seasons at the club Steele was a virtual ever-present and set a club record number of appearances. In 1998 against Bradford Bulls he made a Super League (Europe) record of 66 tackles in a game. In 1999, in his finest moment at the club, Steele scored a memorable last minute try in the Challenge Cup semi-final to earn the Broncos a place in their first ever final. Steele was a huge favorite with the London fans who appreciated his incredible commitment to the cause and general appetite for the game. In 2004, in his final season at the club, Steele was awarded player of the year.

Post-Broncos Career and Retirement

After his time in London, Steele returned to Australia to play in the Queensland Wizard Cup for Ipswich Jets in 2005. After finishing that season as a leading contender for the QANTAS Player of the Year, Steele played one more season for Easts Tigers in 2006. Easts made the finals but were subsequently beaten by Redcliffe in the major Semi-Final, with Redcliffe going on to win the premiership. Steele won the coveted player of the year award for Easts Tigers and also best forward in his final season. Steele is now on the coaching staff at Easts Tigers alongside, former International Darren Smith.

Career highlights

* "Junior Clubs:" Fortitude Valley Diehards
* "Senior Clubs:" Fortitude Valley Diehards , Western Suburbs Panthers , Brisbane Broncos , South Queensland Crushers , London Broncos , Ipswich Jets , Eastern Suburbs Tigers
* "First Grade Stats:" 143 career games in QLD Comp (Approx.) 235 career games in ARL & English Super League scoring 21 tries, including a club record 202 games for London Broncos.
* "Most tackles made in any Super League Match:" 66 by Steele Retchless (against Bradford in 1998. This is an all-time Super League record).

Representative games

Steele qualified to play for the USA Tomahawks through his grandfather, Stuart Beck, who was raised in Iowa, and his mother who was born in Washington DC. Beck arrived in Australia from the U.S. in the middle of last century, captaining his adopted homeland in the sport of baseball.

External links

* [http://www.qrl.com.au/display.php?pg_id=2200 Steele Retchless - A Life Less Ordinary]