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| Full name | Steven Renouf | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1970-06-08)8 June 1970 (age 55) Murgon, Queensland, Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 180 cm (5 ft 11 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Centre | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Relatives | Donald Malone (nephew) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Steven Renouf (born 8 June 1970) is an Australian former professionalrugby league footballer who played in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. Nicknamed 'the Pearl', he was known as one of the sport's greatestcentres.[4] Renouf set numerousrecords for theBrisbane Broncos club. After spending eleven years with Brisbane, which yielded four premierships, he left Australia to play for English clubWigan Warriors, where he spent two seasons before retiring. He was named in Australia's Indigenous team of the century (1908–2007).
OfAboriginal andEuropean descent, Renouf was born inMurgon, Queensland on 8 June 1970. AMurgon Mustangs junior, he developed his game with theBrisbane Broncos in his teen years. Renouf made his first gradeNSWRL Premiership début in the1989 Brisbane Broncos season. He scored his first try for the club in1990, and the following year went on to set a new club record of four tries in a home fixture, and be the Broncos' top try scorer of the1991 Brisbane Broncos season and1992 (along withAllan Langer) seasons. In 1992, the Broncos claimed their first premiership, winning theWinfield Cup Grand Final against St. George 28–8, which was highlighted by a 98-metre try to Renouf in the second half. AfterWillie Carne had somehow managed to avoid being trapped in his in-goal, Broncos captainAllan Langer passed to Renouf who stepped insideRex Terp and took off downfield withMichael Hancock in support no one in front of him after burning Saints fullbackMichael Potter for speed. Veteran Dragons wingerRicky Walford gave chase and made ground on him as Renouf tired over the final 20 metres, but failed to stop him from scoring.[5]
In the weeks following the Broncos Grand Final win, Renouf travelled with theKangaroos to England for the1992 World Cup final at the famousWembley Stadium. Renouf made his début for Australia in front of an international rugby league record attendance of 73,631 fans,[6] scoring the only try of the match after running off a pass from Broncos teammateKevin Walters in the second half. Australia defeatedGreat Britain 10–6 to win their sixthRugby League World Cup. A week later, Renouf played for Brisbane in the1992 World Club Challenge against1991–92British championsWigan atCentral Park inWigan. The Broncos capped their best year by defeating Wigan 22–8 and becoming the first Australian team to win theWorld Club Challenge in England.
In1997, Renouf scored 14 tries, which included ahat-trick against theCronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the1997 Super League grand final on 20 September at ANZ Stadium in Brisbane's 26–8 victory.[7] He was therefore named man-of-the-match.[8] No other player would score 3 tries in a Grand Final until Manly wingerMichael Robertson did so in2008.
He played centre for theBrisbane Broncos in their win at the1998 NRL grand final. Over a decade after leaving the Broncos he was still the club's all-time leading try scorer, having amassed a total of 142 tries.
Renouf's Wigan Warriors début came in round four of theChallenge Cup againstWhitehaven atCentral Park. he scored two tries on début in his side's mammoth 98–4 victory.
In 2000, Renouf was awarded theAustralian Sports Medal for his contribution to Australia's international standing in rugby league. Renouf played for theWigan Warriors at centre their2000 Super League Grand Final loss againstSt Helens R.F.C. His final game for the Wigan Warriors and indeed his last game at the highest level was the2001 Super League Grand Final on 13 October atOld Trafford inManchester. His side lost to theBradford Bulls by 37–6.
Upon his time at Wigan Warriors, Renouf quoted "The two years at Wigan were absolutely brilliant. I would have liked to stay but they didn’t want to retain me"[9]
Following his return to Australia he continued playing football forEasts in theQueensland Cup alongside former Broncos teammateDarren Smith, scoring a try in the 2004 grand final loss to Burleigh.In 2006 Renouf became the 7th former player inducted into the Broncos official Hall of Fame.[10]During the 2007 season at the Broncos' 20-year anniversary celebration, the club announced a list of the 20 best players to play for them to date which included Renouf.[11]
In August 2008, Renouf was named at centre in theIndigenous Team of the Century.[12]
In August 2024, theNational Rugby League announced that Renouf was an inductee into theNational Rugby League Hall of Fame. Renouf, who was ascribed Hall of Fame number 119, was amongst eleven male players in the 2024 Class.[13]
| Season | Team | Appearances | Tries | Goals | Goal-kicking percentage | Field goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 NSWRL Season | Brisbane Broncos | 10 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1990 NSWRL Season | Brisbane Broncos | 4 | 2 | – | – | – | 8 |
| 1991 NSWRL Season | Brisbane Broncos | 20 | 15 | – | – | – | 60 |
| 1992 NSWRL Season | Brisbane Broncos | 23 | 12 | – | – | – | 48 |
| 1993 NSWRL Season | Brisbane Broncos | 18 | 16 | – | – | – | 64 |
| 1994 NSWRL Season | Brisbane Broncos | 21 | 23 | – | – | – | 92 |
| 1995 ARL Season | Brisbane Broncos | 14 | 15 | – | – | – | 60 |
| 1996 ARL Season | Brisbane Broncos | 22 | 19 | – | – | – | 76 |
| 1997 Super League season | Brisbane Broncos | 15 | 14 | – | – | – | 56 |
| 1998 NRL Season | Brisbane Broncos | 26 | 20 | – | – | – | 80 |
| 1999 NRL Season | Brisbane Broncos | 10 | 6 | – | – | – | 24 |
| 2000 Challenge Cup | Wigan Warriors | 3 | 3 | – | – | – | 12 |
| 2000 Super League V | Wigan Warriors | 29 | 20 | – | – | – | 80 |
| 2001 Challenge Cup | Wigan Warriors | 1 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2001 Super League VI | Wigan Warriors | 26 | 20 | – | – | – | 80 |
| Years | Team | Appearances | Tries | Goals | Goal-kicking percentage | Field goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991–1994, 1996, 1998 | Queensland | 11 | 2 | – | – | – | 8 |
| 1997 | Queensland (Super League) | 2 | 2 | – | – | – | 8 |
| 1992–1994, 1998 | Australia | 10 | 11 | – | – | – | 44 |
| 1997 | Australia (Super League) | 1 | – | – | – | – | – |
At the age of 23, six years after signing with the Brisbane Broncos, Renouf was diagnosed withtype 1 diabetes. Renouf remembers that he "had been losing weight quite rapidly, [and] was always going to the toilet and though it was the start of pre-season, [he] had no energy, [he] couldn’t lift anything in the gym".[15] He decided to go to the doctor and found out that he had the disease. According to Renouf "diabetes is not all doom and gloom, you can live with it."[15] His advice to young people who have diabetes is "Never think that it can stop you from achieving your goals. Just look after it, and you can achieve anything. I looked after it...I knew I had to if I wanted to keep playing football."[15]
Renouf has an apprenticeship as an electrician and has also worked in the industry of sales and marketing.[16] He has five children – four sons and one daughter. He is currently working for the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health, as an Ambassador for the Deadly Choices preventative health program.[17]
Since retirement, Renouf has worked as a sideline commentator forTriple M'sBlood, Sweat and Beers sports show.[18]
In February 2006, a biography of Renouf was released. EntitledThe Pearl: Steve Renouf's Story, the book details his career as a professionalrugby league footballer, but it also covers his early life, including his family heritage and his childhood in the Queensland town of Murgon. It also discusses how, as an Aboriginal, he had to overcome prejudices from people around him.[19]
In July 2025, Renouf was charged with high-range drink driving after allegedly blowing nearly four times the legal limit. It is alleged Renouf returned a BAC of 0.197 per cent when he was taken to the Brisbane City Watchhouse for further tests. His licence was immediately suspended, and he was charged with one count of driving under the influence of liquor.[20]
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)