🐇 Steve Martin | Rabbitohs Coach #23

Full Name: Steve Martin
Nickname: Whiz
Born: 7/1/1957 at Wagga Wagga, NSW
Club Playing Career: Barrow 1975; Wagga Kangaroos 1976-77; Manly 1978-81 (premiership in 1978); Balmain 1982-84; Leeds 1983-84; West Tamworth 1985-87 (premiers in 1986-87)
Representative Playing Career: Other Nationalities 1975; Riverina 1976-77; NSW 1978 and 1980 (two games, one try); Australia 1978 and 1980 (one Test, 14 tour games, five tries); City Seconds 1979 and 1981-82
Club Coaching Career: West Tamworth [Group Four] 1985-87 (premiers in 1986-87); North Sydney 1988-92 (reserve grade premiers in 1989); Featherstone Rovers 1993-94; South Sydney 1998
Awards and Accolades: Rookie of the Year 1978; Manly premiership winner 1978; Kangaroo Tour 1978; Manly-Warringah Life Member 1983; Museum of Riverina Sporting Hall of Fame Inductee 1996; Wagga Kangaroos Life Member

The dynamic halfback had a background in Australian Rules in Wagga Wagga before switching codes. In 1975 he played in England with Barrow and represented Other Nationalities in the County Championships. He went back to play for Wagga Kangaroos and first came to the attention of Sydney scouts when he represented Riverina in the Amco Cup.

Manly signed him and in his first season at the Sea Eagles he was phenomenal. After only playing a handful of first grade games he was thrusted into the NSW side as five-eighth and played in Manly’s drawn grand final against Cronulla, and the winning grand final replay. He took out the ‘Rookie of the Year’ award and went on the Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France, where he made his sole Test appearance against France in the First test at Carcassonne.

He was never able to recapture the form he showed in his debut season, even though he represented NSW and Australia on their tour of NZ. Several positional changes at Manly only showed glimpses of his old magic, and in 1982 he went to Balmain to cement his place at halfback. His two seasons at the Tigers were plagued with a series of shoulder injuries and he also had a stint with Leeds in 1983-84.

He came back to captain-coach West Tamworth to maiden premierships in 1986-87 and then was forced to retire from playing after two shoulder dislocations.

In 1988, he started coaching North Sydney’s reserve grade side, and the following season they won the grand final after defeating Parramatta 11-6. He became Norths’ first grade coach in 1990, and the following season took the Bears to the final – their best effort in 26 years. Unfortunately, the winning formula didn’t continue and after a disappointing season he resigned at the end of 1992.

He then went to England to coach Featherstone Rovers in 1993-94 to win the First Division premiership which enabled them promotion into the First Division. He then returned to Australia to become CEO of Brothers rugby union Club in Brisbane, as well as getting involved with the NSW ‘Origin Legends’ and coaching the local Gold Coast Vikings Under-18s representative side.

In 1998, he was coach at the Rabbitohs, but he was moved on after their disappointing 34-18 loss to Adelaide Rams in round 18, with Craig Coleman taking over as coach.

Martin attributed his influence throughout his fine sporting career to many people, including the former Souths five-eighth Greg Hawick; his father-in-law and former Great Britain player, Phil Jackson; coach Frank Stanton, and of course his father, Rod Martin, who passed on his work ethic and positive attitude to Steve.