Steve 'Pearl' Renouf

A member of the Brisbane reserve grade side that won the premiership in 1990, Renouf blossomed into an international star in two short seasons. Easily recognisable in his trademark headgear, Renouf had incredible acceleration and exuded both confidence and class in the centres. After making his State of Origin debut in 1991, it was his performance in the 1992 grand final (including a sensational length of the field try), that earned him selection in Australia's World Cup squad. Securing his place in the final against Great Britain, Renouf turned the match when he charged onto a Kevin Walters pass and scored the winning try. A week later, Brisbane defeated Wigan to claim the World Club Championship and Renouf had arrived as an international player. Despite his diagnosis as a diabetic, his career continued into overdrive. Renouf made his Test debut in place of suspended Australian captain Mal Meninga on the 1993 tour of NZ but on the eve of Brisbane's semi-final campaign, had his jaw broken in an off field incident while attending a party in his home town of Murgon. Renouf made a timely recovery to take his place in Brisbane's second successive grand final win. Renouf scored 4 tries in a match on a number of occasions during his career and in 1994, set a club record 23 tries in a season. That year, he also scored three tries in Australia's 58-0 thrashing of France at P’matta Stadium as well as Australia's sole try in the disappointing 8-4 First Test loss at Wembley Stadium. Renouf played in each of the three remaining Test wins on tour, finishing a memorable international year with two tries in the record 74-0 thrashing of France. His rep career was then put on hold by the game’s Super League split and a crippling foot injury. In 1997, after his three-try effort in Brisbane’s Telstra Cup grand final win against Cronulla, he made one Test appearance against NZ late in the year but withdrew from Super League’s tour of Great Britain because of injury. Renouf appeared in all three Tests against NZ in the reunified 1998 season and won his fourth first grade premiership with the club. In March 1999, he suffered a broken foot before announcing his retirement from rep football to concentrate on his club duties. Renouf signed a two-year contract to play with Wigan, but his farewell to Australian football came prematurely when he broke his arm towards the end of the season – a low-key finish for one of the most exciting centres the game has produced. Autobiography, Pearl (2003).