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DOB 27 September, 1979
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Second tallest player for the Knights this year at 193 cm's.
Joined Newcastle 1997. Newcastle's Jersey Flegg player of the year
1998.
First grade debut Newcastle v. Parramatta, Rd 10, 1999. 43 FG games.
Simpson, who has not missed a first grade game for the Knights since making his debut two years ago, had already been earmarked as probables for the Country Origin team to play City at Bathurst on Friday, June 8 2001.
When a Knights talent scout first approached him in 1994 with an offer to play in the city, he politely knocked it back. Simpson having just scored an apprenticeship as a heavy machinery mechanic, and work came first. Steve Simpson has signed a further three year deal. The Singleton junior has gone from strength to strength in the last two seasons after graduating from the club's Jersey Flegg team in 1999, and is an integral part of the club's future plans.
Forward rises to meet his growing challenges - 30 March
2000, The Newcastle Herald
Strapping Newcastle Knights second-rower Steve Simpson is growing up
quickly, both on and off the field. Simpson has played 51 straight first-grade
matches and blossomed into one of the most exciting young forwards in the
game since breaking into Newcastle's senior squad nine rounds into 1999.
That maturity has been mirrored off the field since December 16 last year,
when Simpson became a father. His long-time girlfriend Helen Convery gave
birth to their first child, daughter Chelsea, and Simpson said parenthood
was "everything and more" than he had anticipated. "Yeah, I think you grow
up quicker, that's for sure," Simpson said.
"It's tough getting up through the night for feeds and that sort of
thing, but Chelsea's pretty well behaved overall. I didn't know what I
was in for at first, but it's just the best feeling. I can't wait to get
home from trips away to see Chelsea and Helen and spend time with them."
Simpson does not seek attention and in recent weeks has spent more
time in the spotlight than he feels comfortable with. He still bears the
scars of being on the wrong end of a stray Gorden Tallis elbow against
the Broncos two weeks ago. Media interest in the case meant seeing his
blood-soaked face in newspapers and on TV screens at every turn. Simpson
was one of several Knights sporting "zippers" after that game and his throw-away
line about a square-up when the Broncos visit Marathon Stadium for the
round-18 rematch received more airplay than he anticipated. "It's been
a bit different, but I suppose it's all part of the game," he said.
Simpson is big enough and tough enough to look after himself whatever
happens. He has been playing with a cracked rib since Newcastle's 28-28
draw with the Bulldogs a month ago. He has also refused to allow other
assorted bumps and bruises of the past two years keep him off the field.
Simpson considered having a week off to rest his rib injury but instead
sat out the second half of Newcastle's 36-28 victory over Melbourne last
Sunday. A three-day break since then has freshened him up for Saturday's
game against the New Zealand Warriors at Marathon. "I'm feeling 100 per
cent better than I was at the same time last week, so I'm pretty sure it's
coming good," he said. "It's been good having a few days away from footy
to recharge the batteries, but I know all the boys are looking forward
to getting back to training (today) and playing at home on Saturday."
Simpson is rated alongside the likes of Danny Buderus and Josh Perry
as potential future internationals among the current crop of Knights. But
he does not dwell on the positive lip service provided by team-mates or
commentators. Like all promising young footballers, he has harboured dreams
of representing NSW and Australia since childhood, but with every game
his goals are becoming more and more achievable. "Things have gradually
built up to this year and now I feel more like one of the senior blokes
in the team," he said. "It's nice to get a rap from your team-mates, especially
blokes like Joey (Andrew Johns) and BK (Ben Kennedy). "But you just put
it behind you and concentrate on working hard at training and doing your
job out on the field every week."
Knights sign up Simmo - 01 Jul 2000,
Newcastle Herald
Second-rower Steve Simpson signed a new three-year contract just hours
before the anti-tampering deadline expired at midnight. Simpson had been
expected to dip his toe in the water of the player market and wait to see
what rival NRL clubs had to offer from today, but the Singleton junior
was always keen to stay close to home. Midweek discussions with Matthew
and Andrew Johns convinced Simpson that his chances of being a regular
first-grade starter and eventually breaking into the representative arena
would be enhanced by staying in Newcastle. Simpson said, `With
guys like Dave Fairleigh and Peter Shiels going to England, I'm hoping
to find a permanent place in the pack from next year and if I can do that
perhaps I can gain some recognition at a higher level down the track,'
It is understood Simpson agreed to stay at the Knights for less money than
he could have earned elsewhere.
In 2001, at age 21, Simpson is emerging as a key figure in the new
look Knights pack. The Knights have lost alot of experienced players
and are looking for players to step up. Simpson stated, "This season
bloked like myself and Sean Rudder have got to make sure we get the job
done. Instead of taking a hit up ever six tacles, I've got to lift
my work rate and make sure i'm there all the time." Ben Kennedy
commented that he is still on a learning curve but this season 2001, he
is showing his class. He said, "He is much tougher, he has good speed
and a good step and great defensive skills. And he is also an intelligent
player. he can sum up a situation quickly and react to it."
Steven Simpson admits it was initially difficult to adjust to losing
so many senior players for the squad this season, 2001. "When I first
got to training I thought, Where is everyone? The usual faces arn't there."
Simpson has played 51 straight first-grade matches and blossomed into one
of the most exciting young forwards in the game since breaking into Newcastle's
senior squad nine rounds into 1999. That maturity has been mirrored
off the field since December 16 last year, when Simpson became a father.
His long-time girlfriend Helen Convery gave birth to their first child,
daughter Chelsea, and Simpson said parenthood was "everything and more"
than he had anticipated. "Yeah, I think you grow up quicker, that's for
sure," Simpson said. "It's tough getting up through the night for
feeds and that sort of thing, but Chelsea's pretty well behaved overall.
Simpson is rated alongside the likes of Danny Buderus and Josh Perry
as potential future internationals among the current crop of Knights.
But he does not dwell on the positive lip service provided by team-mates
or commentators. Like all promising young footballers, he has harboured
dreams of representing NSW and Australia since childhood, but with every
game his goals are becoming more and more achievable. "Things have gradually
built up to this year and now I feel more like one of the senior blokes
in the team," he said. "It's nice to get a rap from your team-mates,
especially blokes like Joey (Andrew Johns) and BK (Ben Kennedy).
"But you just put it behind you and concentrate on working hard at training
and doing your job out on the field every week.
Joined Knights: 1997, Simpson burst onto the scene to play 17
games last year, all off the bench, and his timing in attack and defence
improved with every run. The promising second-rower, who turned 20 the
day after last year's grand final, added 6kg of muscle to his wiry frame
in the off-season which will help him mix it with the big boys. Hopes to
break into the run-on side this year
Simpson the apple of the coach's eye - 1 Jun 2001,
Sydney Morning Herald
At the beginning of last season, then Newcastle coach Warren Ryan suggested
to rookie second-rower Steve Simpson that he juggle oranges at home. The
exercise was designed to improve Simpson's eye-to-hand co-ordination and,
in turn, his ball skills. Remarkably, in the first half of this season,
Simpson only committed two handling errors both in the Knights' round-13
match against Penrith. ``I think I put the mock on him," said Ryan's successor,
Michael Hagan. ``I'd been telling people about how well he was going."
He certainly had.After virtually every Newcastle match, Hagan would regularly
implore the media to give Simpson a plug. At just 21, the Knights regard
him as the future cornerstone of their forward pack. When they had about
a dozen players off contract last season, the rangy back-rower was considered
a priority re-signing along with his former junior teammate Sean Rudder.
The pair played together with Singleton Greyhounds in the Newcastle competition,
a year behind fellow Knight Julian Bailey and North Queensland hooker Leigh
McWilliam, until Rudder was lured to Newcastle as a 15-year-old. A few
years later, the Knights approached Simpson but he initially resisted because
of a mechanics apprenticeship. ``I used to sit on the hill and watch
blokes like Tony Butterfield and Paul Harragon, even the Johnses, and think
how good it would be to play alongside them," Simpson said. Making his
debut in 1999, he got to do that but salary cap restraints, injuries and
retirement mean that of the Test quartet, only Andrew Johns remains and
he's been sidelined for the past month with a knee injury.
Experienced forwards David Fairleigh and Peter Sheils departed for
St Helens at the end of last season, while the Bulldogs recruited Paul
Rauhihi. Suddenly, Simpson was a key member of the Knights line-up. ``I
think he's answered the challenge pretty well," Hagan said. ``He's gone
from a very good bench player to a very good starting forward. ``I spoke
to Simmo at the start of the season about some of the back-rowers that
he would be coming up against in the first five or six weeks. And if you
think back to then and the amount of games we had on the road against good
quality teams, he certainly hasn't lost anything against the likes of Bryan
Fletcher, Nathan Hindmarsh or Gorden Tallis."
It was his clash with Tallis that propelled Simpson into the spotlight
after the Brisbane captain left him requiring seven stitches in the head.
``I wasn't used to having my name in the paper and people talking about
me all week," Simpson said. ``It didn't really worry me too much until
after the game. I was a bit sore over the weekend, and I found it hard
to sleep because my face had just puffed up and was aching. But I just
think those sort of things are better off just being left on the field."
To Hagan, the incident confirmed Simpson's toughness he performed better
after returning from the medical room. ``That was probably just another
example of the competitive spirit he has,"
Hagan said. ``I know that he had a rib injury at the start of the season
which he played with for a number of weeks, whereas a lot of other players
wouldn't have been able to put up with the pain. He wasn't expressing that
anyway, and was just quite happy to get through the game and treat his
injures and get back on the field the next week. ``Things like that are
all little measures of tough-ness that coaches appreciate."
They also like players who get heavily involved yet rarely miss a tackle
or drop the ball. Told about the orange juggling exercise last year, Hagan
said: ``I wasn't aware of that. But I don't think I'll have the need to
introduce apples or bananas. His level of skill is pretty good."
Simpsons defence is watertight - Second
rower steve Simpson is the most effective defensive forward in the NRL.
League Weeks statistics reveal Simpson misses fewer tackles than any other
forward in the comp. Statistics show that as of this week, Simpson
has missed just 19 of the 474 tackles he's attempted. (95% strike rate).
Simpson was rewarded with a spot in the Country squad that thrashed the
city boys in June 2001. Used extensively as an interchange player
in the past, he played 35 of 45 games from the bench in 1999/2000. Simpson
is now a regular starter along side Ben Kennedy.
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Graham Murray's (Ex Sydney City coach) undoctored guide to STEVE SIMPSON - Good footwork at the line and a tough customer with a quick play-the-ball. |
Ocean trips keep Knights on even keel - Newcastle
Morning Herald, 25 September 2001
The Knights' fishing club is built on the outstanding success of its
three members. Their boat can be seen off Newcastle at least one morning
a week with owner Ben Kennedy in charge and team-mates Matt Parsons and
Steve Simpson in tow. 'We've had a few breakdowns and plenty of tangled
lines at times, but it has been relatively incident free,' Parsons said.
'There was one incident where our captain didn't put the bungs in and he
was out in the middle of the harbour at 5.30 in the morning in the middle
of winter. I can't reveal too much, but the captain might also be the owner
of the boat.' The fishing expeditions have netted several large kingfish
along with a plethora of snapper, flathead and choppy tailor. 'BK and I
went to Forster one time and launched a boat off the beach with a four-wheel,
and neither of us had ever done that before in our lives,' Parsons said.
'We nearly killed ourselves about four times doing it, but we were determined
to have a go.' The travelling trio are often referred to as Hook,
Line and Sinker, but there is a heated debate about which one is Sinker.
'You look at Parso and what do you see?' Simpson said. 'He can throw a
golf club around a bit, but that's about it. They call us hook, line and
sinker - and he is definitely the sinker.' Parsons showed exceptional pace
to replay to Simpson's claim. 'Simmo is supposed to be our mechanic,' Parsons
countered. 'When we broke down one day all he did was sit on the front
of the boat playing with the fishing lines.'
23-9-01 - Newcastle became the first team to move into the NRL 2001 grand final with a thrilling 18-10 win over the Sharks at the Sydney Football Stadium. Steve Simpson: It's hard to describe - it hasn't really sunk in - but I'm really looking forward to the week ahead and hopefully we'll get the right result next Sunday. You look at the tries they scored, they were opportunist tries from our silly mistakes, but we had a lot of confidence in our defence and your confidence in attack flows from that.
Brutal pack crushes critics
Actions spoke louder than words for most of the much maligned Newcastle
forwards, but some of them could not hold their tongues any longer. The
Knights smashed the Eels up the middle in the first half to race to a 24-0
lead by the break, setting up their 30-24 victory in the NRL grand final
at Stadium Australia last night. Second rower Steve Simpson said the criticism
had spurred the forwards on all year, especially in the finals. 'That was
a bit of a driving force behind our resurgence. People bagged us all year.'
Simpson: On Saturday, it was unbelievable coming out of town. I didn't
have a tear in the eye but I wasn't far off it. It was very emotional for
all the boys, and the supporters made all the difference. On a night of
courage for Newcastle, second-rower Steve Simpson revealed he had played
on with a painful elbow injury. He scored one try and prevented another
by holding up Eel Andrew Ryan in-goal. "I couldn't have felt better until
I hurt the elbow," Simpson said. "I strained my elbow." Simpson put
his leg and then his arm between the ball and the in-goal area to foil
Ryan as Parramatta were trying to claw their way back after the Knights'
early blitz."I wasn't too sure if he got the ball down until I saw the
replay," Simpson said. "I knew he put it on my leg but I didn't know if
he got it down after that. "The '97 grand final, I was watching it on television
and two or three days after it I couldn't speak, with all my yelling. "This
is a dream come true. I'm going to have to pinch myself to realise it happened."
Perpetual Motion, 30 Sept 2001, The Sun Herald
Steve Simpson, the big and mobile Newcastle Knights second rower holds
a special record going into the NRL Grand Final against Parramatta tonight.
He is the only player from either side to have played in every game this
season - all 26 rounds as well as the qualifying final and preliminary
final. The closest to that perfect record are his teammates Rudder, Kennedy
and Pedan. four years ago, when the Knights beat Manly to win the 1997
grand final, Simpson was a junior and was not even at the SFS to see that
historic event. He was at his parents Singleton home with friends watching
that game on television and helping clean up the remnants of his 18th birthday
party. "We had the party on the Saturday night and there was about three
quarters of a keg left. So I settled down with about 30 of my mates to
watch the grand final and finish off the party. It was special to watch
the boys run out on to the ground but I didn't dare to dream that it might
be me out there on day. I've always had it in the back of my mind, but
I never thought about it much in case it didn't happen." "To be experiencing
now what a lot of footballers will never get that opportunity to experience
is incredible."
Pain the price of Simpson heroics - 04 Oct
2001, Newcastle Herald
NEWCASTLE Knights ironman Steve Simpson made his try-saving tackle
in the grand final against Parramatta last Sunday night just moments after
tearing ligaments in his elbow. Simpson, who turned 22 three days before
the 30-24 win over the Eels, felt his right arm go numb making a tackle
shortly before holding Andrew Ryan up in the 26th minute and stopping a
try to protect Newcastle's 18-0 lead. The quiet achiever of the Newcastle
pack had his right arm encased in plaster during yesterday's grand final
victory parade and celebrations at the Foreshore. Simpson said he left
the field to have pain-killing injections but never considered not returning
for his share of the workload in the second half. `I've partially torn
the medial ligament in my elbow,' Simpson said. `It was about two plays
before that tackle on Ryan. I just felt it let go. `At the time, it was
a situation where I couldn't get off the field straight away and I had
to keep battling away. Luckily we got a break in play and I could go off.
`It was a bit numb and I was carrying it a little bit, but I went off and
(Knights medical officer) Peter McGeoch put a couple of needles in it.
`It wasn't 100 per cent, but I got it strapped up, and it was pretty good
in the second half. There was no way I wasn't coming back on. `I've had
a pretty good run with injuries. I've played 70-odd games and haven't missed
one, so it's probably good timing to get it now because I've got six months
or whatever to get over it.'
Simpson was the only Knights player to start all 29 games this season,
taking his string of consecutive games to 74 since he made his first-grade
debut in round nine of 1999. He said he would have had further pain-killers
and played if the Knights had a game to play this weekend. But with his
commitments over for the season he will spend the next few weeks with his
arm in plaster. `It was a bit disappointing but it's in a half-cast now
and hopefully the swelling will go down enough to put a full cast on it
later in the week,' he said. `They reckon I'll be fine in two or three
weeks. `I spent three hours yesterday getting X-rays and ultrasounds. I
wanted to get it fixed properly now so it's not a problem for me next year.'
Apart from his defensive heroics, Simpson scored Newcastle's second
try and had another disallowed late in the game when referee Bill Harrigan
ruled he was held up but did not consult the video referee. Knights coach
Michael Hagan said Simpson had done enough to warrant selection in Australia's
24-man Kangaroo touring party to England. `You can't under-value Simmo's
contribution in the grand final, or for the year,' Hagan said. `There was
the try that he scored, the try he saved, and the second try we thought
he scored but never got another look at. `He played wounded and needed
a needle to come back on and defended really strong in his second stint
when we were really under the pump. `He had an enormous game and had a
big year and I'm really disappointed he didn't get a start on the tour.'
Simpson, who was sure he scored a second try, said the Kangaroo Tour would
have been a bonus after such a successful season but he was not complaining.
Simpson's early Origin claim - 02 Apr 02
Michael Hagan has called on NSW selectors to blood underrated secondrower
Steve Simpson in State-of-Origin football this year. Hagan's view was supported
by Knights captain Andrew Johns after the premiers scored a 32-14 victory
over the Warriors in Auckland to catapult them to the top of the Telstra
Premiership after three rounds. While Johns was the name on everyone's
lips after a 20-point haul, including three tries and four goals, it was
Simpson who the Knights coach and captain wanted to talk about following
the match. "This year he is an absolute shoo-in for State of Origin and
within the next 12 months he should be playing for Australia," Johns said.
"The way he went against the big Warriors pack was just enormous and he's
only going to keep getting better." Simpson humbled the physical Kiwi pack
from the frontrow after stepping into the boots of Newcastle's most experienced
prop, Matt Parsons, who injured his shoulder training on Sunday. "He's
doing things particularly well all the time, so I'd like to think he's
more than a possible contender," Hagan said.
Simpson on fast forward - Sunday Telegraph,
10 March 2002,
Rangy Newcastle second rower Steve Simpson will kick off his quest
to win a Test jumper this season with an asset few forwards possess - genuine
speed. Remarkably, Simpson ranked in the top five fastest players
in the club over 40 meters during pre season testing, placing him just
behind backline speedsters timana Tahu and Josh Smith. "I would back
him over 40 meters against any forward in the NRL,." Knights fitness co
ordinator and professional sprinter Lee Clark said.
Clark said Simpson's speed had increased as his overall strength improved.
"Simmo was electronically timed at 5.04 seconds over 40 meters which is
right up there. When you are raw boned and weigh just over 100 kg
and you can motor with footwork, you become pretty hard to handle."
Simpson showed an early glimpse of that power in the trial against
Penrith at Cessnock last weekend. He devastated that Panthers out
wide, particularly in the first half, and scored that try off an Andrew
Johns pass late in the game to secure a draw. Knights football manager
mark Sargent believes Simpson should already have won his Test jumper.
"He should have been chosen on the Kangaroo tour in front of Brad Meyers,
But time will prove who is the better player of the two and I know who
it will be. Judging by his training and his game against the Panthers,
I have no doubts Simmo is going to have a huge year."
Knights captain Andrew Johns is just as enthusiastic about Simpson's
representative aspirations. "I have spoken to Phil gould and he has
mentioned Simmo as a real contender for Origin this season. He would
handle it, no problem at all." Johns said.
SIMPSON READY FOR LONG STINT IN BLUE JERSEY – SMH,
15 May 2002
It's taken Newcastle second-rower Steve Simpson only 24 hours to settle
into the NSW State of Origin side. For anyone who has seen the 22-year-old
over the past two seasons, that should come as no surprise. Simpson has
handled every challenge the National Rugby League has thrown at him since
making his first grade debut as a talented 19-year-old in 1999. But it's
over the past two years that he's proved himself to be a quality footballer.
Last year the Knights pack was branded too soft to win a NRL grand final
- enter Simpson. This year coach Michael Haagan was scouring his ranks to
find a prop to replace the injured Matt Parsons against the might of the
New Zealand Warriors - enter Simpson.
In eight days NSW will be looking for someone to match the power of
Queensland - enter Simpson. "They have a great side and some big blokes
in it," Simpson said. "It will be a good challenge. I'm just going to enjoy
myself and take it as it comes." Simpson was widely tipped to make the
Blues side before Sunday night's announcement. But he conceded it was still
a huge buzz when he received a phone call from Newcastle and NSW captain
Andrew Johns informing him he was in the 17-man squad. The 24 hours since
have been a "blur" for the 190cm, 102kg forward. "I'm slowly getting there,"
he said yesterday. "Yesterday was a bit of a blur. There was a lot happening.
It's settling down a bit today so that's good." A few choice words from
Knights teammate and NSW roommate Ben Kennedy have also helped the settling-in
process. Kennedy has already predicted Simpson could enjoy a long tenure
in Origin football. "He's shown all year how much of a talent he is," Kennedy
said. "He doesn't get overawed by things, he's tough, he has a high workrate.
He'll suit State of Origin football." And Newcastle's quiet achiever has
already shown he has the nous for a long stint in a Blues jersey. While
his teammates were enjoying the traditional bonding session into the early
hours of the morning, Simpson took an early mark. "I back doored it at
about 1am. I had to get out of there."
Back-rower Steve Simpson's streak of consecutive games is still technically
alive, despite him missing last week's loss to the Warriors while on Origin
duty. Since making his first-grade debut in 1999, Simpson had played
82 straight games for the Knights before the Warriors match.NRL Stats guru
David Middleton said because Simpson was in the NSW team and unavailable
to play for the Knights, the sequence of consecutive matches had not been
broken.
SIMPSON AT HOME IN TOP-SHELF COMPANY - 15
May 2002, Newcastle Herald
It has been taken Newcastle second-rower Steve Simpson only 24
hours to settle into the NSW State of Origin side. For anyone who
has seen the 22-year-old over the past two seasons, that should come as
no surprise. Simpson has handled every challenge the NRL has thrown
at him since making his first-grade debut as a talented 19-year-old in
1999. But it is over the past two years that he has proved himselfto
be a quality footballer. He made his mark among a Knights pack who
were last year branded too soft to win a NRL grand final. And this
year he rose to the occasion when coach Michael Hagan was scouring his
ranks to find a prop to replace the injured Matt Parsins against the might
of the New Zealand Warriors.
In eight days NSW will be looking for someone to match the power
of Queensland. And Simpson is ready to step up.
'They have a great side and some big blokes in it,' Simpson said.
'It will be a good challenge. I'm just going to enjoy myselfand take it
as it comes.'
Simpson was widely tipped to make the Blues side before Sunday night's
announcement. But he conceeded it was still a huge buzz when he received
a phone call from Newcastle and NSW captain Andrew Johns informing him
he was in the 17-man squad. The 24 hours since have been hectic for
the 190cm, 102kg forward. 'I'm slowly getting there,' he said.
'Yesterday was a bit of a blur. There was a lot happening. It's settling
down a bit today, so that's good.'
A few choice words from Knights team-mate and NSW room-mate Ben
Kennedy have also helped the settling-in process.
Kennedy has already predicted that Simpson could enjoy a long
tenure in State of Origin football. 'He's shown all year how much
of a talent he is,' Kennedy said. 'He doesn't get overawed by things, he's
tough, he has a high workrate. He'll suit State of Origin football.'
Newcastle's quiet achiever has already shown he has the nous for a long
stint in a Blues jersey. Simpson took an early mark while his team-mates
enjoyed the traditional bonding session into the early hours of the morning.
'I back-doored it at about 1am,' he said. 'I had to get out of there.'
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