Steve Mortimer

  • Playing Career

Playing Career

Vital Statistics

Full Name
Steve Charles Mortimer
Nickname(s)
Turvey
Born
Sunday, 15th July, 1956
Current Age
67 years and 258 days
Place Of Birth
Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia

Awards & Accolades

Clive Churchill Medal
1985
National Rugby League Hall Of Fame
2008
NSWRL Hall Of Fame
2019

Known Family Links

Brother
Chris Mortimer
Peter Mortimer
Glen Mortimer
Nephew
Daniel Mortimer

Biography

Mercurial halfback came to C’bury from Wagga in 1976 and became an inspirational captain at club and State level. However, Steve ‘Turvey’ Mortimer had a poor debut for NSW in 1977 and it was another four years before he was to stake his claim as the game’s premier rep halfback. A standout performer in C’bury’s semi-final loss against P’matta in 1978, Mortimer produced a champion’s match against St George in the 1979 grand final despite being in the losing side. In 1980 he played alongside brothers Chris and Peter when C’bury defeated Easts in the grand final to win the club's first premiership in 38 years. Mortimer belatedly won a Test jersey in the series against France in 1981 and after playing in two Tests against NZ the following year, was selected for the Kangaroo Tour as the No.1 halfback. However, Peter Sterling played in all Tests on tour, relegating Mortimer to the club matches, and the two players continued to duel for the Australian and NSW No.7 for the next three years. Despite a well-publicised feud with coach Warren Ryan, Mortimer captained the Bulldogs to successive grand final wins in 1984-85 and also took over the captaincy of NSW during that time. In 1985 he led the Blues to their first win in a State of Origin series but declined to tour NZ with the Australian side because of business commitments. Single-minded in his goals, temperamental and with a touch of ego and aggressiveness that all champions require, the final years of his career were clouded in acrimony. Two high tackle controversies (against Michael O'Connor in 1985 and Mark Wakefield in 1986) resulted in a nine-week suspension after he was cited for the latter indiscretion. A grand final loss in 1986 was followed by a request to leave the club for Manly but this was denied. In a troubled 1988 season under Phil Gould, Mortimer stood down as captain, suffered a respiratory complaint (Mortimer was asthmatic) and then broke his arm late in the season. His final match, as a fresh reserve in the Bulldogs’ grand final victory, was not the way he would have preferred to end a marvellous career but he retired with a then club record number of first grade matches and a host of brilliant achievements to his credit. In 2002 the Bulldogs appointed Mortimer Chief Executive after revelations of salary cap breeches. The former club great tried hard to bring credibility back to the club but after the off-field problems in a pre-season trial at Coffs Harbour in 2004 Mortimer was informed that he had lost the support of the club’s Directors (chaired by former team-mate George Peponis) and had no option but to resign. Later that year he was named in the Bulldogs’ greatest ever team as part of the club’s 70th Anniversary celebrations, but not as captain. Autobiography, Top Dog (1987).
- ALAN WHITICKER

Playing Career Statistics

All statistics shown in this section are based only on data available in the RLP database, and are not necessarily a complete and/or 100% accurate representation of a player's career. This information should be used as a guide only. If you see a question mark (?), it denotes that the figure is not available.

To view a list of corresponding matches, click on the List button.

Competitions

Competition   App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
National Panasonic Cup 3 4 -   1 14 0 3 0 0.00% List
NRL 273 79 -   5 270 168 94 11 61.54% List
NRL Finals 25 9 -   - 30 17 8 0 68.00% List
City vs Country Firsts 5 6 -   - 22 4 1 0 80.00% List
Interstate Matches 6 - -   - - 6 0 0 100.00% List
Tour Matches New South Wales Firsts 1 - -   - - 0 1 0 0.00% List
Tour Matches Australia 14 11 1   - 35 14 0 0 100.00% List
Test Series 7 2 -   - 6 6 1 0 85.71% List
State of Origin 9 3 -   - 11 5 4 0 55.56% List
The Ashes 2 - -   - - 2 0 0 100.00% List


International

Test Matches - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Australia 1981-84 9 2 -   - 6 8 1 0 88.89% List


Representative

Australia - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Riverina 1975 1 - -   - - 0 1 0 0.00% List
NSW Firsts 1977, 1979, 1981 7 - -   - - 6 1 0 85.71% List
NSW City Firsts 1977, 1981, 1983-84 4 6 -   - 22 4 0 0 100.00% List
NSW City Seconds 1979 1 1 -   - 3 1 0 0 100.00% List
NSW 1982-85 9 3 -   - 11 5 4 0 55.56% List
Oceania 1984 1 1 -   - 4 1 0 0 100.00% List
NSW Country Firsts 1985 1 - -   - - 0 1 0 0.00% List
Overall1975-1985 24 11 0   0 40 17 7 0 70.83% List


Club Career

NRL/NSWRL - By Year

Team Season App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Canterbury NSWRFL 1976 19 6 -   - 18 11 5 3 57.89% List
Canterbury NSWRFL 1977 20 5 -   1 16 10 9 1 50.00% List
Canterbury NSWRFL 1978 21 5 -   - 15 11 8 2 52.38% List
Canterbury NSWRFL 1979 25 10 -   1 31 16 9 0 64.00% List
Canterbury NSWRFL 1980 19 5 -   - 15 13 6 0 68.42% List
Canterbury NSWRFL 1981 22 8 -   1 25 8 14 0 36.36% List
Canterbury NSWRFL 1982 24 12 -   1 37 12 9 3 50.00% List
Canterbury NSWRFL 1983 23 9 -   - 36 17 6 0 73.91% List
Canterbury NSWRL 1984 23 2 -   - 8 19 4 0 82.61% List
Canterbury NSWRL 1985 20 4 -   - 16 14 4 2 70.00% List
Canterbury NSWRL 1986 18 7 -   - 28 11 7 0 61.11% List
Canterbury NSWRL 1987 20 4 -   - 16 12 8 0 60.00% List
Canterbury NSWRL 1988 19 2 -   1 9 14 5 0 73.68% List

NRL/NSWRL - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Canterbury 1976-88 273 79 -   5 270 168 94 11 61.54% List

Your Say

  • Anthony Mortimer
    01/11/2014

    Hey Steve Mortimer was a great player all round. I did follow Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs until they took on the Balmain Tigers in 1988 or 89 GF. And it was a good game, until They took out The Black Pearl. And also I would like to know if I am Related to This Mortimer Clan?? :)

  • Anonymous
    20/07/2016

    Steve should have played those tests but team coordination of parramatta was the deciding factor as Steve was the better halfback and always was

  • Jimbo
    09/08/2020

    Steve Mortimer was a very exciting player with magical skills. As a half back was very fast and a good defender particularly in cover defending. He was a great Bulldogs captain, and inspirational in captaining NSW to their first ever series win over QLD in 1985. It was amazing that Mortimer could play such free and open attacking football, considering how rough and tough the era was that he played in. Mortimer was a huge contributor to Canterbury-Bankstowns great success in the 1980’s.

  • Chris
    20/02/2022

    Absolute legend of the game played over 270 games in a brutal era

  • Anonymous
    17/03/2023

    Steve Mortimer Played 272 Games Not 273.

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Contributions: Shawn Dollin, Andrew Ferguson, Paul Carter, Greg Fiveash, Rugby League Tables, Greg Stroud, AJ Lucantonio, Alan Katzmann, Steven Russo, Max Turner, Bill Bates, Tim Costello

Sources: NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1987-88, Match Video, NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1988-89