Steve Roach (rugby league footballer)

Steve Roach (born 1962, Sydney, Australia), known as "Blocker" to fans, was an Australian rugby league prop forward of the 1980s and early 1990s. Known for his aggressive approach and powerful running close to the rucks, Roach was at his peak probably the number one prop in world rugby league, but he was also notorious for frequent controversial behaviour on the field, which went so far as to made state and national selectors wary of him.

Related Topics:
1962 - Sydney - Australia - Rugby league - Prop forward

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Though he was born in Sydney, Steve Roach played his early rugby league for Woollongong Wests and was only signed by Balmain in 1982. He quickly advanced to first grade and was by 1983, when Balmain made the semi-finals for the first time since 1977, mentioned as a contender for representative honours, which first came his way in 1984. By this time, his tremendously solid and stocky build (he was only 178cm or 5 feet 10 tall but had some of the largest hands of any player in the game) made him a bull-like runner up the middle who possessed excellent offloading skills that frequently gave team-mates tries or long breaks. In 1985, Roach played his first Test match against New Zealand and the following year, continued excellent performances for Balmain made him a certainty for the Kangaroo tour, on which he played ten games.

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However, 1987 was almost completely wiped out for Roach due to a serious knee injury, and though he returned to excellent form in 1988 he was not chosen for any State of Origin games despite New South Wales being whitewashed by Queensland. Then, Roach was cited for a tackle on Penrith's Chris Mortimer and missed the 1988 finals, whilst numerous sin-binnings made state selectors unwilling to risk him the following year - New South Wales were again whitewashed. However, his powerful performances, alongside Paul Sironen, Benny Elias and Wayne Pearce in one of the strongest packs in club rugby league, made him a certainty for the New Zealand tour. Later in 1989, Roch continued to dominate many games for Balmain until he was controversially replaced during the grand final and Canberra overpowered them with his strikepower gone.

Related Topics:
Paul Sironen - Benny Elias - Wayne Pearce

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In 1990, Roach's form for Balmain and New South Wales showed him to be the best prop in the game, but a controversial four-week suspension for touching the referee in a game with Manly added to his reputation as one of the prime "bad boys" of rugby league. He was impressive on the following Kangaroo tour, but in 1991 showed some decline despite his experience being vital to the improvement of a reorganised Balmain side after a shocking start: he lost his Test place and, despite gaining a late call-up for the Papua New Guinea tour, he broke his ankle. This almost ended his career, for in 1992 he never regained his form despite surprisingly (given his poor tribunal record) being not cited for a questionable tackle.

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By the end of the 1992 rugby league season Roach had written a controversial autobiography, Doing My Block and had became a commentator with Channel 9, where he was to remain for the rest of his active life in rugby league. After a disagreement with fellow Channel 9 commentators Paul Vautin and Peter Sterling, he was sacked by the network, and was signed by then rugby league broadcaster 2UE, before moving to 2GB along with Ray Hadley and his Continuous Call Team. He has recently reappeared on television, appearing on the Seven Network's Sportsworld.

Related Topics:
Autobiography - Channel 9 - Paul Vautin - Peter Sterling - 2UE - 2GB - Ray Hadley - Continuous Call Team - Seven Network - Sportsworld

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