Steve Folkes

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Steve Folkes
Personal information
Born (1959-01-31) 31 January 1959 (age 65)
Australia
Playing information
Height 178 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight 85 kg (13 st 5 lb)
Position Second-row
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1978–89 Canterbury Bulldogs 235 45 0 0 159
1991 Canterbury Bulldogs 10 1 0 0 4
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1986–88 New South Wales 9 0 0 0 0
1986–88 Australia 5 2 0 0 8
Coaching information
Club
Years Team Gms W D L W%
1998–08 Canterbury Bulldogs 288 162 7 119 56
Source: Rugby League Project and Yesterday's Hero

Steve Folkes (born 30 January 1960) is a former Australian rugby league test footballer and former coach of the Bulldogs in the National Rugby League. He is currently the assistant coach of the St George Illawarra Dragons.

Playing career

Folkes, who was Captain of Punchbowl Boys' High School, came from the Bankstown Sports Junior Rugby League Club, played 245 first grade games and 308 grade games for the Bulldogs between 1978 and 1991 as well as 24 games for Hull in England. A hard-working second-row forward; despite playing at 85 kilograms, he could beat many, much bigger opponents through the number of tackles he was able to make. He also represented New South Wales on nine occasions in State of Origin football. At the end of the 1986 NSWRL season, he went on the 1986 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France. He would play a total of five Tests between 1986-88. As a player, Folkes played in 6 Grand Finals (1979, 80, 84, 85, 86 and 88) winning on four occasions.

Coaching career

After serving as reserve grade coach of the Bulldogs between 1996 and 1997, Folkes was appointed coach of the Bulldogs to succeed Chris Anderson. In his first year as coach, the Bulldogs made the 1998 NRL grand final, where they lost to Wayne Bennett's Brisbane Broncos.

The Bulldogs appeared poised to claim the 2002 NRL premiership but were disqualified and stripped 37 premiership points after a major salary cap breach was uncovered. Folkes claimed his premiership two seasons later with a 16–13 defeat of the Sydney Roosters in the grand final.

Steve Folkes was awarded Dally M Coach of the Year in 2004.

The 2004 grand final victory continues a unique tradition at the Bulldogs - every coach appointed by the club since 1978 - (Ted Glossop, Warren Ryan, Phil Gould, Chris Anderson and Folkes) - has won a premiership. At the end of the 2007 season, Folkes' win record with the Bulldogs was 60%. On 7 April 2008, the Bulldogs announced that Folkes tenure as would end with the 2008 season.[1]

Following his departure from the Bulldogs, Folkes took up a position as strength and conditioning coach for the West Indies cricket team.[2] In October 2009, Folkes returned to rugby league, accepting the role of strength and conditioning coach for the Wests Tigers.[3] In 2011, he was an assistant coach with the club.

It was announced in May 2011 that Folkes would join the St George Illawarra Dragons as the assistant coach to Steve Price from 2012.[4]

Personal life

Folkes is married to Karen, who is the daughter of Bulldogs 'godfather', Peter Moore.[5]

Coaching record

Steve Folkes - Coaching Results by Season[6]
NRL Team Year Games Wins Losses Draws Win % Finals Series
Bulldogs 1998 29 17 12 0 58.62% Grand Final: 12-38 v Brisbane
1999 26 16 9 1 61.53% Semi Final: 22-24 v Melbourne
2000 26 10 15 1 38.46%
2001 28 17 8 3 60.71% Semi Final: 10-52 v Cronulla
2002 24 20 3 1 83.3%
2003 27 17 10 0 62.96% Preliminary Final: 18-28 v Sydney Roosters
2004 28 22 6 0 78.57% Grand Final: 16-13 v Sydney Roosters
2005 24 9 14 1 37.5%
2006 26 17 9 0 65.38% Preliminary Final: 20-37 v Brisbane
2007 26 12 14 0 46.15% Semi Final: 6-25 v Parramatta
2008 24 5 19 0 20.83%
Career 288 162 119 7 56.3% at 30 September 2008

Footnotes

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External links

Preceded by
Chris Anderson
1990-1997
Coach
Canterbury Bulldogs

1998-2008
Succeeded by
Kevin Moore
2009-2011