Jason Stevens
Encyclopedia
Jason Anthony Stevens is a former professional rugby league
footballer who represented his country and state
. He primarily played at prop. Stevens retired from competitive rugby league in 2005 and has worked as a rugby league writer since.
, in the St. George area as well as playing for local club side the Brighton Seagulls after a request by a friend to join. The then captain of the St. George Dragons
, Michael Beattie, recommended that he be signed for the Dragons on the scholarship programme in his mid-teens and he went on to represent the Dragons in the Matthews Cup
while still in school in 1991.
at Jubilee Oval on 5 July 1992.
During the 1993 season Stevens became a first team regular for the Dragons, playing the majority of the season in first grade and making it to his first first grade Grand Final against Brisbane
at only twenty years of age. The day turned sour though when, in the second tackle of the game, Stevens injured his thumb badly and had to be taken from the field to hospital for surgery; the Dragons eventually lost the game without Stevens taking any further part.
Stevens enjoyed another four seasons for the Dragons before finally moving on to St. George's local rivals, the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
, for the new 1997 season.
at Wembley Stadium
. The three-match series
was won by Australia 2–1 with Stevens playing at prop forward in all three test matches. He also played in his second Grand Final, again a loss to the Brisbane Broncos.
Stevens enjoyed a successful and much heralded career for the Sharks. He scored a total of ten tries for the club and put in countless hours in the forward pack building his reputation as one of the best and toughest forwards in rugby league during the span of his career.
At the end of the 2001 NRL season, he went on the 2001 Kangaroo tour
.
Stevens also built up good partnerships over several years at the Sharks and also at International level with fellow Prop forwards Martin Lang and Chris Beattie.
During the 2004 season, Stevens retired from representative rugby league after only playing around ten minutes for game 1 of the State of Origin
series, though he continued to play for the Cronulla Sharks
. In total he played 22 games for the 2004 season scoring a single try.
Once the 2005 season began many speculated that it would be Stevens last and it took several months until any official announcement was made concerning the matter. Towards the end of the 2005 season Stevens finally announced that he would retire from Rugby League while appearing on The Footy Show
. The Cronulla Sharks as well as several other clubs offered him new contracts which he declined stating he believed it was time to hang up his boots and move on to other things; niggling injuries are also said to have pushed him towards retirement. In his final season Stevens only made 16 appearances for his club in which he scored one try.
Stevens was also a finalist in the 2005 Cleo
Bachelor of the Year awards (finished 3rd). Jason also appears on vega fm's Tony Squires & Rebecca Wilson.
Stevens was a guest commentator on the very popular Roy and HG Radio Commentary for the State of Origin.
He also features in the video clip for Guy Sebastian
's song "Like it Like That".
In 2010, Stevens has appeared regularly on Channel Seven’s The Matty Johns Show as a panelist and an interviewer of touring celebrities. It has also been announced that Stevens is in the 2010 lineup of Dancing with the Stars (Australian TV series)
which pairs celebrities with professional ballroom dancers who each week compete against each other in a dance-off to impress a panel of judges and ultimately the viewing public in order to survive potential elimination.
True love and why the sex is better". It encourages people of all ages (focused mainly on teens and young adults) to save sex for marriage instead of engaging in premarital sex. It attempts to weigh up all opinions on sex before and after marriage from both a Christian and non-Christian perspective also discussing a variety of reasons as to why he believes it should be saved.
, he does many speaking engagements and social appearances for various organisations and churches around Australia every year.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer who represented his country and state
New South Wales Rugby League team
The New South Wales rugby league team has represented the Australian state of New South Wales in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1907. Administered by the New South Wales Rugby League, the team competes in the annual State of Origin series against arch-rivals, the...
. He primarily played at prop. Stevens retired from competitive rugby league in 2005 and has worked as a rugby league writer since.
Childhood and early career
Stevens began playing rugby league for his school, Marist College KogarahMarist College Kogarah
Marist College Kogarah is a systemic Catholic College for boys from Years 7 to 12, located in Bexley, New South Wales, Australia.The College was founded in 1909, and has a tradition based on the teachings of the French educator Saint Marcellin Champagnat...
, in the St. George area as well as playing for local club side the Brighton Seagulls after a request by a friend to join. The then captain of the St. George Dragons
St. George Dragons
The St George Dragons was an Australian Rugby league football club in St George, Sydney, New South Wales that played in Australia's top-level Rugby league competition from New South Wales Rugby Football League in 1921 until 1998; in 1999 they formed a joint venture with the Illawarra Steelers,...
, Michael Beattie, recommended that he be signed for the Dragons on the scholarship programme in his mid-teens and he went on to represent the Dragons in the Matthews Cup
Harold Matthews Cup
The NSWRL Harold Matthews Cup is a junior rugby league competition played in New South Wales between teams made up of players aged under 16. The competition is administered by the New South Wales Rugby League...
while still in school in 1991.
St. George Dragons
In 1992, after being signed by the St. George Dragons, Stevens moved into the Dragons Under 21's side and reached his first Grand Final for the Dragons (Under 21's) but ended up on the losing side going down to the Western Suburbs Magpies. That year (while still in his teens) he made his first grade debut for the St. George Dragons against the Penrith PanthersPenrith Panthers
The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia. For the 2012 NRL season they will be coached by Ivan...
at Jubilee Oval on 5 July 1992.
During the 1993 season Stevens became a first team regular for the Dragons, playing the majority of the season in first grade and making it to his first first grade Grand Final against Brisbane
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
at only twenty years of age. The day turned sour though when, in the second tackle of the game, Stevens injured his thumb badly and had to be taken from the field to hospital for surgery; the Dragons eventually lost the game without Stevens taking any further part.
Stevens enjoyed another four seasons for the Dragons before finally moving on to St. George's local rivals, the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Cronulla Sharks
The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks are Australian professional Rugby league team based in Cronulla, in the Sutherland Shire, Southern Sydney, New South Wales...
, for the new 1997 season.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
It was during his first season with the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in 1997 that he was selected for Australia and made his International debut against Great BritainGreat Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
at Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
. The three-match series
Super League Test series
The Super League Test series was a three-Test match series between the Great Britain national rugby league team and Super League's Australian national team held during November 1997 in England...
was won by Australia 2–1 with Stevens playing at prop forward in all three test matches. He also played in his second Grand Final, again a loss to the Brisbane Broncos.
Stevens enjoyed a successful and much heralded career for the Sharks. He scored a total of ten tries for the club and put in countless hours in the forward pack building his reputation as one of the best and toughest forwards in rugby league during the span of his career.
At the end of the 2001 NRL season, he went on the 2001 Kangaroo tour
2001 Kangaroo Tour
The 2001 Kangaroo Tour was almost abandoned due to the events of September 11, 2001. The tour was initially cancelled by the ARL but after strong public opinion in both Great Britain and Australia, it went ahead, though the only games played were the three tests, marking the first Kangaroo Tour to...
.
Stevens also built up good partnerships over several years at the Sharks and also at International level with fellow Prop forwards Martin Lang and Chris Beattie.
During the 2004 season, Stevens retired from representative rugby league after only playing around ten minutes for game 1 of the State of Origin
Rugby League State of Origin
State of Origin is an annual best of three series of rugby league football matches contested by the Maroons and the Blues, who represent the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales respectively...
series, though he continued to play for the Cronulla Sharks
Cronulla Sharks
The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks are Australian professional Rugby league team based in Cronulla, in the Sutherland Shire, Southern Sydney, New South Wales...
. In total he played 22 games for the 2004 season scoring a single try.
Once the 2005 season began many speculated that it would be Stevens last and it took several months until any official announcement was made concerning the matter. Towards the end of the 2005 season Stevens finally announced that he would retire from Rugby League while appearing on The Footy Show
The NRL Footy Show
The Footy Show is a Logie Award-winning Australian sports variety television programme, shown on the Nine Network and its affiliates. Following the success of the AFL program of the same name, the Nine Network quickly developed a version for the rugby league market. The rugby league version has...
. The Cronulla Sharks as well as several other clubs offered him new contracts which he declined stating he believed it was time to hang up his boots and move on to other things; niggling injuries are also said to have pushed him towards retirement. In his final season Stevens only made 16 appearances for his club in which he scored one try.
Representative career
- City: Represented City on several occasions between 2002–2004
- State Of Origin: Played 8 games in total for New South Wales
- Australia: Played 16 games in total for his country including representing Australia in the 2000 Rugby League World Cup2000 Rugby League World CupThe 2000 Rugby League World Cup was the twelfth staging of the Rugby League World Cup and was held during October and November of that year in Great Britain, Ireland and France...
Entertainment career
Stevens for several years now has been a semi-regular member of the NRL Footy Show. He has appeared in various skits, segments, often performed songs and has been involved in several Footy Show special episodes throughout the years.Stevens was also a finalist in the 2005 Cleo
Cleo
Cleo is a given name that is short for Cleopatra or Cleophalus and an alternate spelling of Clio. It is a Greek prefix often translated to mean 'pride', 'fame' or 'glory'.Cleo may refer to:-People:...
Bachelor of the Year awards (finished 3rd). Jason also appears on vega fm's Tony Squires & Rebecca Wilson.
Stevens was a guest commentator on the very popular Roy and HG Radio Commentary for the State of Origin.
He also features in the video clip for Guy Sebastian
Guy Sebastian
Guy Theodore Sebastian is an Australian pop, R&B, and soul singer-songwriter who was the first winner of Australian Idol in 2003. He is currently a judge on the Australian version of The X Factor. Sebastian has released six top ten platinum/multi platinum albums, including a number-one and...
's song "Like it Like That".
In 2010, Stevens has appeared regularly on Channel Seven’s The Matty Johns Show as a panelist and an interviewer of touring celebrities. It has also been announced that Stevens is in the 2010 lineup of Dancing with the Stars (Australian TV series)
Dancing with the Stars (Australian TV series)
Dancing with the Stars is a Logie Award-winning, Australian light entertainment reality show airing on the Seven Network and filmed live from the HSV-7 studios in Melbourne...
which pairs celebrities with professional ballroom dancers who each week compete against each other in a dance-off to impress a panel of judges and ultimately the viewing public in order to survive potential elimination.
Author
To date Jason Stevens has authored one book titled "Worth the WaitWorth the Wait
Worth The Wait is a book by Jason Stevens, published in paperback by Gary Allen.The book is written by rugby league international Jason Stevens, it focuses on his own decision to turn away from premarital sex and abstain from it until he was married and his reasons as to why he believes others...
True love and why the sex is better". It encourages people of all ages (focused mainly on teens and young adults) to save sex for marriage instead of engaging in premarital sex. It attempts to weigh up all opinions on sex before and after marriage from both a Christian and non-Christian perspective also discussing a variety of reasons as to why he believes it should be saved.
Religion
Jason Stevens is a born-again ChristianChristian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
, he does many speaking engagements and social appearances for various organisations and churches around Australia every year.
Quotations
"I think the point of it is he doesn't like the jersey I wear and I don't like the one he wears." (Chris Beattie on his State of Origin fight with Jason Stevens, 2001)
"We were out on our feet. I got to a scrum late in the game and Lang said: 'Come on, keep goin'. We're mates... we're mates.'" (Jason Stevens on Martin Lang, 2000)
"They haven't invented a condom that will protect your self-respect or your heart from being broken.'"