Steve Edge (rugby league)

Steve Edge

Personal information
Full name	Steven Edge
Nickname	Sledge hammer
Born	1951 Kogarah, New South Wales
Height	5 ft 9 in.
Weight	12 st 7 lb.
Playing information
Position	Hooker
Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
1973–79	St. George Dragons	103	15	0	0	45
1980–84	Parramatta Eels	117	19	0	0	61
	Total	220	34	0	0	106
Representative
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
1976	Combined Sydney
1980	New South Wales	1	0	0	0	0
Source: Rugby League Project and Yesterday's Hero

Steve Edge is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 80s. A New South Wales Blues representative hooker he played in the St. George Dragons' 14th and 15th grand final wins and captained the Parramatta Eels to their 1st, 2nd and 3rd premierships.

Regarded as one of the most successful captains under the limited tackle rule, Steve Edge played in a remarkable 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 clubs to Grand Final premiership success.

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.

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.

Links and references

• http://www.showroom.com.au/dragons/dragonshistory Dragons History site
• http://www.stateoforigin.com.au/soogame/PlayerDetails.aspx?Pid=121 State of Origin Player Detail