Peter Sterling

The title of Peter Sterling's biography, Sterlo: The Story of a Champion (1990) best sums up the career of the P’matta and Australian Test halfback. Queensland-born but raised in the Riverina, the blond-haired teenager came to Fairfield Patrician Brothers on a scholarship in 1978. Sterling was a five-eighth then but incredibly, made his first grade debut as a stand-in fullback in the major semi-final replay against Manly in 1978. Sterling was always tipped for stardom, from his early high school days to his baptism in P’matta's top grade. Shifting to halfback (Mick Pattison was the first grade pivot at the time) he made his State of Origin debut in 1981 and played in the club's first grand final victory. After another grand final success in 1982, he toured with the Kangaroos. Sterling was in such great form that he kept Steve Mortimer out of all five Tests on the unbeaten tour, forming a champion partnership with Brett Kenny at club and Test level. It has been said that his major strength was that he did everything brilliantly -he possessed an immaculate kicking game, was a courageous defender, a great tactician and a masterful ballplayer. Sterling played in one Test against NZ in 1983 and made it three grand finals in a row with the Eels. Having already showed a liking for English club football, he played for Hull in 1983-84, vacating his Test spot, and it would not be until 1986 that he would recapture the top halfback position. Sterling was inspirational in Hull's Yorkshire Cup victory and in early 1985, played one of the best games seen in a losing side in the Wembley Challenge Cup final. Sterling drove his side from a 28-12 deficit to ultimately go down to a Brett Kenny-inspired Wigan, 28-24. England had seen something very special! Sterling, who first captained NSW Country in 1984, returned to concentrate on his Australian career in 1986 and after playing in three Tests against NZ, won the inaugural Clive Churchill Medal in P’matta's 4-2 grand final win over C’bury. Sterling made his second Kangaroo tour that year and for the second time, played in every Test on an unbeaten tour. Tests against NZ (1987) and Great Britain (1988) followed and he was also NSW captain in the promotional State of Origin match at Veteran's Stadium (USA) in 1987. However, it was his great efforts with the declining P’matta club that gained ultimate recognition in his later career. (Sterling produced what is regarded as his perfect game in the club match against Easts in 1987). Voted ‘Dally M’ Player of the Year in 1986-87 and prestigious Rothmans Medal winner in 1987 and 1990, Sterling also won the ‘Golden Boot’ award for the finest player in international league (tied with NZ's Hugh McGahan) in 1989. A recurring shoulder injury ended his career in 1992 but his easygoing manner coupled with a sharp intelligence has seen him easily make the transition to media commentator with Channel 9. In 2006 Sterling was inducted into the ARL Hall of Fame.

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 icon.

International
Test Matches - By Team
Team	Years	App	T	G			GK %	FG	Pts	W	L	D	Win %
Australia	1982-83, 1986-88	18	4	-				1	16	16	2	0	88.89%
Overall	1982-1988	18	4	0				1	16	16	2	0	88.89%
World Cup Matches - By Team
Team	Years	App	T	G			GK %	FG	Pts	W	L	D	Win %
Australia	1982-1988	4	1	-				-	4	3	1	0	75.00%
Overall	1986-1988	4	1	0				0	4	3	1	0	75.00%
Representative
Australia - By Team
Team	Years	App	T	G			GK %	FG	Pts	W	L	D	Win %
New South Wales	1981, 1983-84, 1986-88	13	-	-				-	-	6	7	0	46.15%
NSW City Firsts	1982	1	1	-				-	3	1	0	0	100.00%
NSW Country Firsts	1983-84, 1986	3	-	-				-	-	0	3	0	0.00%
NSW Country	1987-88	2	-	-				-	-	0	2	0	0.00%
Overall	1981-1988	19	1	0				0	3	7	12	0	36.84%
Club Career
Australian League Matches - By Year
Team	Years	App	T	G			GK %	FG	Pts	W	L	D	Win %
Parramatta	NSWRFL 1978	?	-	-				-	-
Parramatta	NSWRFL 1979	?	-	-				-	-
Parramatta	NSWRFL 1980	16	3	-				-	9	9	6	1	56.25%
Parramatta	NSWRFL 1981	25	8	-				1	25	17	7	1	68.00%
Parramatta	NSWRFL 1982	27	8	-				-	24	21	6	0	77.78%
Parramatta	NSWRFL 1983	19	5	-				-	20	15	4	0	78.95%
Parramatta	NSWRL 1984	26	4	-				1	17	18	8	0	69.23%
Parramatta	NSWRL 1985	12	2	-				-	8	7	5	0	58.33%
Parramatta	NSWRL 1986	23	5	0	/	1	0.00%	4	24	16	6	1	69.57%
Parramatta	NSWRL 1987	20	6	-				2	26	10	10	0	50.00%
Parramatta	NSWRL 1988	13	1	1	/	1	100.00%	-	6	6	7	0	46.15%
Parramatta	NSWRL 1989	14	5	-				-	20	8	6	0	57.14%
Parramatta	NSWRL 1990	21	1	-				7	11	12	8	1	57.14%
Parramatta	NSWRL 1991	1	-	-				-	-	0	1	0	0.00%
Parramatta	NSWRL 1992	3	-	-				-	-	1	2	0	33.33%
Overall	1978-1992	?	48	1				15	190	?	?	?	?
Australian League Matches - By Team
Team	Years	App	T	G			GK %	FG	Pts	W	L	D	Win %
Parramatta	1978-79	?	48	1				15	190	?	?	?	?
Parramatta	1980-92	220	48	1				15	190	140	76	4	63.64%
Overall	1978-1992	?	48	1				15	190	?	?	?	?
Australian Finals Matches - By Team
Team	Years	App	T	G			GK %	FG	Pts	W	L	D	Win %
Parramatta	1980-1986	19	4	-				-	14	14	5	0	73.68%
Overall	1981-1986	19	4	0				0	14	14	5	0	73.68%
English League Career - By Year
Team	Years	App	T	G			GK %	FG	Pts	W	L	D	Win %
Hull FC	Championship 1983/84	?	1	-				-	4
Hull FC	Championship 1984/85	?	5	-				-	20
Overall	1983-1985	?	9	0				0	36	?	?	?	?
English League Career - By Team
Team	Years	App	T	G			GK %	FG	Pts	W	L	D	Win %
Hull FC	1983-85	?	9	-				-	36	?	?	?	?
Overall	1983-1985	?	9	0				0	36	?	?	?	?

Last modified: Mon, 20 May 2013 00:36:25 +1000 (Sydney time)