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Steve Clark (referee)
Encyclopedia
Steve Clark is a former Australia
n professional referee in the National Rugby League
competition.
and the Newcastle Knights
, at Parramatta Stadium
on 31 May 1992. In 2007 Clark reached the 300 first grade game barrier becoming only the third referee to do so. At the time of his retirement only Bill Harrigan
with 393 games and Col Pearce with 343 games had refereed more matches than him.
and New Zealand
.
In 2005 he controlled in his one and only City vs Country Origin
match at Northpower Stadium
in Gosford
.
Clark made his first State of Origin
appearance in 1999
, refereeing two matches including the first ever drawn match in Game III. He didn't referee again until the 2005 series
where he was appointed to Game II. In the following series
he controlled Games II and III.
and St. George Illawarra Dragons, where a 32nd minute try to Jason Nightingale
was disallowed by Clark (acting as video referee) due to Matt Cooper stipping the ball. Even the referee Sean Hampstead remarked "That was a tough decision Clarky".
The Bulldogs demanded the sacking of Clark when on 15 May 2009 he disallowed a try to Jamal Idris
, claiming that the Dragons Jamie Soward
was impeded by Greg Eastwood
of the Bulldogs. Clark was not sacked over this incident.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n professional referee in the National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
competition.
NRL career
Clark made his first grade debut in the match between Parramatta EelsParramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
and the Newcastle Knights
Newcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
, at Parramatta Stadium
Parramatta Stadium
Parramatta Stadium is a sports stadium situated in Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia.The stadium is used primarily as the home ground of Australian National Rugby League club the Parramatta Eels...
on 31 May 1992. In 2007 Clark reached the 300 first grade game barrier becoming only the third referee to do so. At the time of his retirement only Bill Harrigan
Bill Harrigan
-External links:**http://www.billharrigan.com.au/Referee-career-pg2853.html*http://www.mediaman.com.au/profiles/harrigan.html*http://www.abc.net.au/queensland/conversations/stories/s1766903.htm*http://www.claxtonspeakers.com.au/speakers_profile/134...
with 393 games and Col Pearce with 343 games had refereed more matches than him.
Representative honours
Clark made his representative refereeing debut in 1996, when he officiated the Test match between 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"....
and New Zealand
New Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
.
In 2005 he controlled in his one and only City vs Country Origin
City vs Country Origin
City vs Country is an annual Australian rugby league football match that takes place in New South Wales between City and Country representative sides. The City side represents the Sydney metropolitan area...
match at Northpower Stadium
Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium
Central Coast Stadium, named Bluetongue Stadium due to sponsorship, is a sports venue in Gosford, on the Central Coast of New South Wales. The stadium is home to the Central Coast Mariners Football Club who compete in the A-League...
in Gosford
Gosford, New South Wales
Gosford is a city located on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia, approximately 76 km north of the Sydney central business district...
.
Clark made his first 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...
appearance in 1999
1999 Rugby League State of Origin series
The 1999 State of Origin series was the 18th year that the annual best-of-three series of interstate rugby league football matches contested between the Queensland and New South Wales representative teams was played under 'State of Origin' selection rules. The series was drawn and the shield...
, refereeing two matches including the first ever drawn match in Game III. He didn't referee again until the 2005 series
2005 Rugby League State of Origin series
The 2005 State of Origin series was the 24th year that the annual best-of-three series of interstate rugby league football matches contested between the Queensland and New South Wales representative teams was played under 'State of Origin' selection rules. The three matches drew a total attendance...
where he was appointed to Game II. In the following series
2006 Rugby League State of Origin series
The 2006 State of Origin series was the 25th year that the annual best-of-three series of interstate rugby league football matches contested between the Queensland and New South Wales representative teams was played under 'State of Origin' selection rules. It was decided in three matches which drew...
he controlled Games II and III.
Controversy
Steve Clark was been accused by St. George Illawarra Dragons coach Nathan Brown of bias against the St. George Illawarra Dragons team in 2006, based on a perceived tendency to award dubious penalties against St. George Illawarra Dragons. Brown was subsequently fined $15000 for making these comments. An example of such a controversial penalty awarded against St. George Illawarra Dragons was in the Round 9 2008 game between Parramatta EelsParramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
and St. George Illawarra Dragons, where a 32nd minute try to Jason Nightingale
Jason Nightingale
Jason Nightingale is a professional rugby league footballer for the St. George Illawarra Dragons of the Australian National Rugby League...
was disallowed by Clark (acting as video referee) due to Matt Cooper stipping the ball. Even the referee Sean Hampstead remarked "That was a tough decision Clarky".
The Bulldogs demanded the sacking of Clark when on 15 May 2009 he disallowed a try to Jamal Idris
Jamal Idris
Jamal Dasuki Idris is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Gold Coast Titans of the National Rugby League. He previously played for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. A New South Wales State Of Origin representative, he has also played for the Indigenous Australian...
, claiming that the Dragons Jamie Soward
Jamie Soward
Jamie Soward is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the St. George Illawarra Dragons of National Rugby League...
was impeded by Greg Eastwood
Greg Eastwood
Greg Eastwood is a professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for the Canterbury Bulldogs in the NRL. A New Zealand international representative lock or second row forward, he previously for the Brisbane Broncos, Bulldogs in the NRL and Leeds Rhinos in the European Super League...
of the Bulldogs. Clark was not sacked over this incident.