Name Steele Retchless Role Rugby player | Height 1.78 m Weight 89 kg | |
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Steele Retchless (born 16 June 1971) is an Australian retired professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s, and 2000s. He previously played for the Brisbane Broncos and London Broncos, primarily in the second row. Retchless played his last game for Easts Tigers in a Queensland Wizard Cup preliminary final defeat by Redcliffe Dolphins in 2006.
Contents
- Early years
- London Broncos
- Post Broncos career and retirement
- Career highlights
- Representative games
- References
Early years
Steele Retchless is the son of former Brisbane Rugby League player Mick Retchless. He played his junior football for Fortitude Valley Diehards and made his senior début for the club in 1991. In 1993, Retchless switched to Wests Panthers contesting successive finals and winning the Brisbane Rugby League premiership in his first year at the club.
Retchless 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, Retchless moved to the South Queensland Crushers and participated in 22 matches. 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 Britain's Super League for the London Broncos. During seven seasons at the club, Retchless set a club record number of appearances. In 1998 against Bradford Bulls, he made a Super League record of 66 tackles in a game. That season he was named in 1998's Super League III Dream Team.
In 1999, Retchless scored a memorable last minute try in the Challenge Cup semi-final to earn the London Broncos a place in their first ever final. In his final season at the club, 2004, Retchless was awarded Player of the Year.
Post-Broncos career and retirement
After his time in London, Retchless 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, Retchless played a 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. Retchless won the Player of the Year award for Easts Tigers and also Best Forward in his final season.
Retchless is currently on the coaching staff at Easts Tigers alongside former International Darren Smith.
Career highlights
Representative games
Retchless 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 United States, captaining his adopted homeland in the sport of baseball.