Steve Simpson

Hunter Valley junior formed a premiership-winning back row combination at Newcastle with Ben Kennedy and Bill Peden. Simpson played in all 28 matches of the 2001 season, culminating in another tireless effort in the grand final win over P’matta. The following year he made played in all three State of Origin matches for NSW before making his Test debut in the 64-10 thrashing of Great Britain in July. Injuries ruled him out of State of Origin contention in 2003 but his good form in the latter part of the year, especially his strong running and punishing defence, earned him selection on the Kangaroo Tour. The strapping second row forward played in all four Tests on tour, starting with the shock 30-14 loss to the Kiwis in October, and culminating in Ashes winning Test wins against Great Britain. Simpson’s 2004 season was limited to just 5 games because of foot and jaw injuries suffered at different stages of the season. However he returned to rep football in 2005, for NSW, and played for Australia in the 50-12 win over NZ in May 2006. After toiling for NSW in the 2006 State of Origin series injury ruled him out of Australia’s successful Tri-Nations campaign at the end of the year.