Peter Sterling: The Great Sterlo'

Sean Fagan of RL1908.com

Peter Sterling

The Queensland born (Toowoomba) Peter Sterling emerged at Parramatta in the late 1970s - by the end of the 1980s he was without peer in the rugby league world as a playmaker and half-back.

Kangaroo and NSW captain Max Krilich described Sterling as "the greatest player of his time, he is as dominant as Bob Fulton was in his era".

A talented junior player who earned a number of rep honours, Sterling spent his childhood in Newcastle and Wagga Wagga, before being signed by Parramatta at the age of 17 in late 1977.

A die-hard Manly fan, the spirited performances of the Eels in the two previous seasons convinced Sterling that Parramatta was a club that he wanted to play for. He was also impressed by coach Terry Fearnley going to the effort of travelling to Wagga to meet Sterling and his father.

Fearnley confided many years later that they just had to get his signature: "You just knew he was going to succeed...he had it written all over him".

Based at the old Cumberland Oval, Sterling spent the 1978 season as 5/8th in the Eels' Under 23s before a spate of injuries saw him gain first grade selection in the semi-final replay against Manly as fullback.

Still at school, Sterling also played in the Amco Shield where he was voted player-of-the-year and was the driving force behind Patrician Brothers Fairfield winning the televised competition.

Sterling played a few first grade games in 1979 before again being called up for a semi-final - this time against the Grand Final bound Canterbury. He was selected at 5/8th and team mate Arthur Beetson told all that: "Sterling is one of the most determined and mature players I've seen".

Eels coach for 1980 John Peard took Sterling aside in pre-season training and told him that his future at the club would be solely as a half-back. It was Peard's only season as Eels coach, but it proved to be a masterstroke. Respected rugby league writer Ian Heads saw the improvement in Sterling after only a handful of games in 1980: "There seems to be no reason why Sterling won't soon achieve a Kangaroo tour and play a vital cog in a Grand Final win for Parramatta".

Sterling himself offered that his success came because of Ray Price - no one wanted to run through the scrum base and chance meeting Price, which left Sterling largely untouched and a chance to feed his outside backs of Ella, Kenny, Cronin and Grothe.

1981 saw Sterling gain honours in the City Seconds side before being called into the NSW Origin team for Game 3 of the series. The year also included the Grand Final win with Parramatta over Newtown.

The youthful Sterling was displaying attributes that belied his age and inexperience - he possessed an adept and accurate passing game, reading plays 3 or 4 tackles ahead and implemented a short-kicking game that brought many defences undone. He was not the fastest halfback ever seen, but his playmaking and tackling were without peer for his # 7 position.

Sterling continued to lead Parramatta to successful premiership campaigns in 1982, 1983 and 1986, winning the Clive Churchill Medal in the latter. It was also in this period that he claimed the Australian Test halfback position.

In 1982 the late season form of Sterling and Brett Kenny at Parramatta saw them both gain Kangaroo tour selection. The duo kept the incumbent halves Mortimer and Lewis at bay by continuing their success in the early tour games, setting the scene in the opener against Hull.

Sterling was selected as Australia's # 7 for the First Test at Boothferry Park. The Kangaroos destroyed the Brits by 40-4 with Sterling playing a large role. Alex Murphy, one of the Lions best ever halfbacks, commenting: "These Aussies are from another planet".

While Sterling is remembered as a key player in the 1982 Kangaroo "Invincibles", it was not until 1986 against New Zealand that he took the field in a home test match. Ultimately playing 18 Tests for Australia, Sterling stepped down after the successful 1988 home series against the British Lions.

At State of Origin level, debuting in 1981, Sterling was forced to continually battle against Steve Mortimer for the NSW half-back position until the mid-80s. He was also hampered by needing to form overnight partnerships with a parade of 5/8ths thanks to the domination of Queensland's Wally Lewis.

In 1983 Sterling took a bits-and-pieces NSW side to victory and in 1986 he lead the Blues to the first ever series clean sweep. Sterling continued until the 1988 series gaining man-of-the-match honours four times in Origin football.

After enjoying his 1982 stay in England with the touring Kangaroos, Sterling was easily persuaded by Hull FC to guest for the famous club for 8 matches in the 1983/84 Australian summer. While Sterling was searching for new experiences in the north of England, in his debut match against Wakefield Trinity there was a familiar face to greet him - Wally Lewis.

Hull lost only once with Sterling in the team and both parties agreed on a longer stint for the following English winter. Sterling lead Hull to three finals in 1984/85, including a win in the Yorkshire Cup where he was awarded the White Rose Trophy (man of the match). Hull's Challenge Cup campaign was driven brilliantly by Sterling, earning the club a place in the Final against Wigan.

The Wigan side included Brett Kenny and the Parramatta team mates faced each other at Wembley. Sterling produced a grand performance, but it wasn't enough to edge out the Wigan side who won what is considered to be the greatest Challenge Cup Final ever.

The second half of the 80s saw Sterling continue in champion form for Parramatta as he won the Rothmans Medal (twice - 1987 & 90), Dally M Award (twice - 1986 & 87) and the Golden Boot (1987). In a club match at Parramatta Stadium in 1987 against Easts, Sterling produced a masterful display. It was rated as the most dominating performance seen at club level ever, or certainly in the living memory of any journalist or spectator who was there (or via video).

Sterling's career ended after shoulder injuries in the early 1990s took hold. The final bell tolled in mid-Autumn 1992 in a match against Western Suburbs. Sterling was powerfully hit by tackling hardman David ‘Cement' Gillespie, popping his shoulder. In the dressing room the jersey had to be cut to get it off, Sterling gave his final Parramatta jumper away to Matt Adamson.

While his body had brought an end to his playing days, Sterling's sharp tactical football brain saw him adapt quickly to the TV commentary microphone. Within moments of a try being scored, Sterling would be dissecting the movement on the TV screen with clinical accuracy for the audience.

Much sought after as a coach, Sterling has refrained from entering the often short-lived vocation of many former great players - for the moment.