Steve Mortimer
Halfback
Player Bio
- Inducted:
- 2015
- Date of Birth:
- 15 July 1956
- Birthplace:
- Yagoona, NSW
- Nickname:
- Turvey
- Debut Team:
- Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
- Date:
- 21 March 1976
- Opposition:
- -
- Venue:
- Leichhardt Oval
- Representative:
- 9 Test Matches for Australia, 9 Matches for NSW State of Origin, 7 Matches for NSW Firsts, 4 Matches for NSW City Firsts, 1 Match for NSW City Seconds, 1 Match for Oceania, 1 Match for NSW Country Firsts
- Club:
- Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Career
Milestones
- Premierships: 1980, 1988
- Premiership Captain: 1984-85
- Kangaroo Tour: 1982
- Grand Final Man of the Match: 1985
- Rated No.73 in Rugby League Week's Top 100 Players: 1992
- Canterbury-Bankstown Life Member
- Berries to Bulldogs 70 Year Team of Champions
- Bulldogs Ring of Champions
- Canterbury-Bankstown Hall of Fame
Playing
- First Class Games
- 346
- Points
- 355
- Tries
- 104
Biography
Born in Wagga Wagga, Steve Mortimer made his name as a junior at Turvey Park, the club that would provide a nickname for the future Australian halfback.
Mortimer played eight Tests for his country and made 16 appearances for New South Wales in the 1980s, when he was recognised for putting passion into the Blues jersey.
Along with brothers Chris and Peter, Steve formed the backbone of the Canterbury-Bankstown Club in the 1980s.
The Mortimers and Hughes brothers (Graeme, Garry and Mark) were a major ingredient behind the Bulldogs' success and its reputation as ''The Family Club''.
During a sparkling period of eight years, Canterbury won four premierships and reached six grand finals. Mortimer was instrumental in this success, captaining the side to back-to-back titles in 1984 and 1985.
In an era of great halfbacks, Mortimer and Parramatta's Peter Sterling emerged as the outstanding playmakers in the game.
Mortimer tormented defenders with his electric running, especially around the scrums. His trademark was a chip-kick and regather — a move that frequently resulted in tries to himself or five-eighth Terry Lamb.
Despite his diminutive stature, Mortimer was admired for copybook tackling around the ankles of much bigger opponents.
Mortimer has served the Bulldogs as an administrator following a 272-game career that marked him one of the Club's all-time greats.
“He’s up there with the best of them … the Phar Lap of football.”
Warren Ryan Former Bulldogs Coach
Hall of Fame Members
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs respect and honour the Darug and Eora nations, who are the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.