Steven "The Zap" Turner, (born on 10 October 1984) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer. Turner played his club football in the National Rugby League for the Penrith Panthers, Melbourne Storm and the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. Turner played one game for New South Wales in the State of Origin. He primarily played as a wing.
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| Full name | Steven Turner | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 10 October 1984 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Height | 177 cm (5 ft 10 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 86 kg (13 st 8 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Wing, Fullback | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Early life
editGrowing up in Erskine Park, New South Wales, Turner was educated at James Erskine Primary School & St Dominic's College, Penrith.[3]
Turner played junior rugby league with Cambridge Park RLFC and St Clair Comets.[3] Turner then went to Cambridge Park and played fullback there for several years before making it to first grade.
Also an under-15 state level touch footballer, Turner was signed by the Penrith Panthers in 2000. He went on to play for NSW under-19s and the Junior Kangaroos. [citation needed]
Professional career
editIn 2002, Turner made his NRL debut for Penrith against the Melbourne Storm. Turner then signed with Melbourne the next year.
In 2007, Turner was to be one of the inaugural members of the newly admitted Gold Coast Titans side after he announced in June 2006 that he had signed a new deal to the Gold Coast. Turner agreed to join the club until the end of 2009 but then later decided to remain at Melbourne.[4]
Turner played his one and only game for the NSW Blues in game two of the 2008 State of Origin series, which the Blues lost 30–0. Turner was infamously ran over the top of by Queensland player Greg Inglis during the match on his way to the try line.[5][6]
Turner signed with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs for the 2010 and 2011 seasons, competing for the place left by retired Canterbury icon Hazem El Masri. Turner scored his first double for the club in Canterbury's 60–14 thrashing of the Sydney Roosters in round 3.
In 2011, Turner took over the goal kicking duties when Bryson Goodwin was injured and became a successful goal kicker. On 17 March 2013, Turner announced his retirement from rugby league effective immediately due to a recurring knee injury.[7]
Post playing
editIn 2023 it was announced that Turner would coach the Bulldogs SG Ball squad.[8]
References
edit- ^ Rugby League Project
- ^ Yesterday's Hero
- ^ a b "Sporting Life – St. Dominic's College". Archived from the original on 9 June 2009. Retrieved 17 May 2009.
- ^ "Steve Turner moves on from Gold Coast Titans". Herald Sun. 22 September 2007.
- ^ "Slater to deliver moving tribute to struggling Inglis on Origin night". The Sydney Morning Herald. June 2019.
- ^ "Former New South Wales winger Steve Turner urges the Blues to stay loyal to their debutants". Fox Sports. 3 June 2013.
- ^ "Canterbury Bulldogs winger Steve Turner retires due to knee injury". The Daily Telegraph. Sydney. 17 March 2013.
- ^ "True Bulldogs To Lead Canterbury's Future". Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. 7 November 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2024.