Steve Mortimer

  • Playing Career

Playing Career

Vital Statistics

Full Name
Steve Charles Mortimer
Nickname(s)
Turvey
Born
Sunday, 15th July, 1956
Current Age
68 years and 113 days
Place Of Birth
Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia

Honours & Awards

Based only on data available in the RLP database. This information should be used as a guide only.

The Ashes
1984
Test Series
Australia vs France 1981, Australia vs New Zealand 1982, New Zealand vs Australia 1983
State of Origin
1985
Interstate Series
1977, 1979, 1981
NSWRFL/NSWRL Premiership (NRL)
1980, 1984, 1985, 1988
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   Comp Wins App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
The Ashes 1 2 - -   - - 2 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 4 7 2 -   - 6 6 1 0 85.71% List
State of Origin 1 9 3 -   - 11 5 4 0 55.56% List
Interstate Series 3 6 - -   - - 6 0 0 100.00% List
City vs Country Firsts - 5 6 -   - 22 4 1 0 80.00% List
NSWRFL/NSWRL Premiership (NRL) 4 273 79 -   5 270 168 94 11 61.54% List
NSWRFL/NSWRL Finals - 25 9 -   - 30 17 8 0 68.00% List
Preseason Cup - 18 4 -   - 12 9 9 0 50.00% List
Midweek Cup - 17 4 -   1 14 8 9 0 47.06% List
Challenge Cup AU - 1 - -   - - 0 1 0 0.00% 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

NSWRFL/NSWRL Premiership (NRL) - 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 1982 Winfield Cup   24 12 -   1 37 12 9 3 50.00% List
Canterbury NSWRFL 1983 Winfield Cup   23 9 -   - 36 17 6 0 73.91% List
Canterbury NSWRL 1984 Winfield Cup   23 2 -   - 8 19 4 0 82.61% List
Canterbury NSWRL 1985 Winfield Cup   20 4 -   - 16 14 4 2 70.00% List
Canterbury NSWRL 1986 Winfield Cup   18 7 -   - 28 11 7 0 61.11% List
Canterbury NSWRL 1987 Winfield Cup   20 4 -   - 16 12 8 0 60.00% List
Canterbury NSWRL 1988 Winfield Cup   19 2 -   1 9 14 5 0 73.68% List

NSWRFL/NSWRL Premiership (NRL) - 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, Greg Fiveash, Paul Carter, Rugby League Tables, Greg Stroud, AJ Lucantonio, Alan Katzmann, Steven Russo, Max Turner, Tony McCarron, Bill Bates, Tim Costello

Sources: David Middleton's Rugby League Yearbook (1987-88 to present), Match Video