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Steve Folkes

Referee Career

Vital Statistics

Born
Saturday, 31st January, 1959
Died
Tuesday, 27th February, 2018 (Aged 59 years and 27 days)
Place Of Birth
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Honours & Awards

Based only on data available in the RLP database. This information should be used as a guide only.

The Ashes
1988
World Cup
1985/1988
Test Series
Australia vs New Zealand 1986
State of Origin
1986
City vs Country
1987, 1988
City vs Country Firsts
1986
NSWRFL/NSWRL Premiership (NRL)
1980, 1984, 1985, 1988
Dally M Coach Of The Year
2004

Known Family Links

Brother-in-law
Kevin Moore

Biography

One of the fittest and most dedicated trainers in the game Steve Folkes was a rock-like second-row forward in the Bulldogs' four grand final victories during the 1980s. He first played for NSW in 1986, progressing to the Test team for the series against NZ, and despite suffering a groin strain which kept him out of football for the rest of the year he was cleared to tour with the Kangaroos. Folkes played in only 6 matches on tour including the Second Test against France. His final Test appearance was against Great Britain in 1988 but it was in the week-to-week grind of premiership matches that he continued to prove himself. Folkes retired in 1990, then spending a season in England with Hull, but returned to C’bury as club conditioner and actually played part of the 1991 season as hooker. He then served a long apprenticeship as club conditioner and lower grade coach under Chris Anderson before taking over the first grade role following the Bulldogs’ 1997 Super League season. In his debut year Folkes took C’bury to the grand final with a series of desperate, last-minute wins in the 1998 semi-final series. Although ultimately beaten 38-12 by a champion Broncos team Folkes’ tenure with the Bulldogs marks him as one of the most hard-working coaches of the modern game. In 2002 he weathered the stripping of 37 competition points for salary cap infringements and allegations of player misconduct in 2003-04 to take the club to the grand final in 2004. The Bulldogs’ 16-13 win over the Roosters was a just reward for this stoic, quietly-determined coach. In 2005 the Bulldogs missed the play-offs after an injury-ridden season and after making the preliminary final in 2006, the 2007 season marks Folkes’ tenth straight season as coach of the club.
- ALAN WHITICKER

Additional Notes

Referee Career Statistics

All statistics shown in this section are based only on data available in the RLP database, and are not necessarily a complete and/or 100% accurate representation of a player's career. This information should be used as a guide only. If you see a question mark (?), it denotes that the figure is not available.

To view a list of corresponding matches, click on the List button.

Club Career - Australia   Games  
NRL Premiership 4 57 List
Overall   Games  
First Class 57 List

NRL Premiership - By Year

Season   Games  
NRL 2014   29 List
NRL 2015   28 List
NRL Premiership (2014-2015)   57 List

Your Say

  • Anonymous
    11 Nov 2015 10:55pm

    Pound for pound one of the toughest player to play the game. The type of player you would want next to you every week.

  • Anonymous
    17 May 2025 4:20am

    8th inductee into the Canterbury Hall of Fame in 2025.

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Contributions: Rugby League Tables, Paul Carter, Greg Fiveash, Andrew Ferguson, Shawn Dollin, AJ Lucantonio, Alan Katzmann, Greg Stroud, Steven Russo, Max Turner, Jason Ganter, Bill Bates

Sources: David Middleton's Rugby League Yearbook (1987-88 to present), Match Video, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook (1981-82 to 1999), Irvin Saxton's Record Keepers' Club, News Reports