Peter Sterling

Sterling compensated for a lack of size and pace with control and organisational skills that allowed Parramatta's all-star back line of Brett Kenny, Mick Cronin, Steve Ella and Eric Grothe a great deal of ball. His kicking, backed up by Kenny and Ray Price's superb chasing, often gave Parramatta an advantage in territory. His fast mind meant that he rarely made a wrong decision. He was an effective defender rare to miss a tackle, and often in position to secure a loose ball.

He joined the Parramatta Eels in 1978 making his first appearance as a stand-in fullback during the 1978 finals series. After a few games at five-eighth in 1979, Sterling shifted to halfback and established himself in 1980. 1981 saw Parramatta win their initial first grade title with Sterling's superb skill and control one of the decisive factors. He played for New South Wales that year without living up to his club form, but in 1982 Parramatta could do no wrong, apart from a 0–20 thrashing at the hands of Manly in the semi final. Sterling was chosen for the Kangaroo Tour despite having not played in the State of Origin series and played in every Test in that unbeaten tour side.

In 1983, Sterling played in Australia's win in the first test against New Zealand, but wasn't selected for Australia's shock 12–19 second Test loss, was named man-of-the-match in the 2nd game of the State of Origin series and helped Parramatta to a third successive premiership title. After playing for Hull over the Australian summer, Sterling vacated his Test spot despite winning the Rugby League Week Player of the Year award in 1984 for the first time. In the 1984 grand final, Sterling had few opportunities due to the power of the Canterbury Bulldogs forwards, and he did not play for Parramatta in the first half of 1985 as he was with Hull. His superb skills translated to Hull and he made a prominent impact in English club rugby league, playing in the losing side of the epic 1984–85 Challenge Cup final against Parramatta teammate Brett Kenny. Though he was relatively quiet upon his return to Parramatta, at the end of the season Sterling's skill allowed Parramatta to crush Balmain (twice) and Penrith to move from doubtful finalists to the preliminary final – where a ruthless Canterbury side crushed them by 26 points to nil.

1986 saw Sterling almost carry a clean sweep of the major awards – except the Rothmans Medal – and win the inaugural Clive Churchill Medal in Parramatta's fourth grand final victory. He again played every Test on an unbeaten Kangaroo tour of England that year. Despite Parramatta declining from premiers to seventh with Cronin and Price retiring and Grothe and Ella playing very little due to injuries, 1987 was undoubtedly Sterling's finest year. He swept all major player of the year awards – winning the Rothmans Medal by five points, the Dally M player of the year award, and the Rugby League Week player of the year award.

1988 saw Sterling produce quality displays for Parramatta despite the team having a disappointing year. In the last Test against Great Britain he suffered a serious shoulder injury and did not play again that year. In 1989 Sterling retired from representative rugby league but performed for Parramatta till an ankle injury ended his season and plans to play out his career in England. 1990 saw Sterling play a full season at the top of his form and lead a young Parramatta side to an excellent placing. He won a second Rothmans Medal, but in the last match against Manly a shoulder injury recurred such that despite Parramatta signing him for two more seasons, Sterling was only able to play four games before his career ended.

Sterling played 229 games for Parramatta, scoring 48 tries, one goal, and 15 field goals.

Wikipedia

Rugby League Yearbook 1990-91

Peter Sterling joined esteemed company when he was
named Rothmans Medal winner for 1990 by NSW premier
Nick Greiner.
The mercurial Sterling, who first won in 1987, became
only the third player to twice win the game's most
prestigious player award.
He joined former South Sydney five-eighth Denis Pittard
(1969 and 1971) and his Parramatta coach Mick Cronin,
who won the award in 1977 and 1978.
Sterling was a most deserving winner, impressing the
referees who judge the award with his consistent
excellence, even though he finished only a point ahead
of talented young Norths' halfback Jason Martin.
In one of the award's closest finishes, only a point
separated each of the top four positions.
Sterling's team-mate, prop Matt Goodwin emerged as
an early "bolter" for the Medal, winning a host of votes
in the early counting, but Sterlo's brilliance shone
through.
Sterling's form was of the highest order throughout the
1990 season, and the experience gleaned over 13 seasons
in first grade football was always evident in his play.
He boosted the future hopes of the young Eels outfit by
re-signing with the club for two more seasons.
Young Parramatta players such as Jason Bell,
Glen Liddiard, Scott Mahon and Brian Jackson have clearly
benefitted from Sterling's presence in the team.
Martin surprised many by finishing second in only his
first season in top grade football, but he too was a fine
performer for the Bears, who improved markedly in 1990.
Newcastle's Steve Fulmer made it a halfback trifecta
when he finished in third position, two behind Sterling.

Rugby League 1987-88 Official Yearbook

Parramatta and Australian halfback ace Peter Sterling capped a remarkable season when he accepted the 20th Rothmans Medal award from NSW premier Barrie Unsworth at a glittering presentation at Sydney's Hilton Hotel.
A stunning late season charge from Sterling overcame a big early lead set up by Test forward Wayne Pearce, who finished second in the counting.
Sterling's 30 point winning score was the second highest in Rothmans Medal history, falling just two short of Mick Cronin's record 32 points in 1978.
Sterling's 1987 displays were of the highest quality and he was one of the most popular winners in the award's history.
Along the way the blonde-haired schemer snapped up nearly every major award the game had to offer in a year of disappointments for him.
His Parramatta side missed the semi-finals for the first time since 1980, the New South Wales State of Origin outfit were beaten in the Winfield series and Australia were knocked off in a hit and run Test by the New Zealanders.
But a common denominator in all those matches, was the superb form of Sterling. His award-winning efforts behind forward packs not progressing were an outstanding effort.
Pearce looked to have the Rothmans Medal in his keeping with three rounds to play, but Sterling's late surge denied him of his second medal in three years.
A suprise third placegetter was North Sydney prop Martin Bella who finished equal with South Sydney halfback Craig Coleman on 18 points.

Eels champ dodges a traffic jam then slams the Tigers By Tony Adams

When Parramatta won the 1986 Tooth Cup final over Balmain at Leichhardt Oval in 1986, it was the first step in the mightiest year in the Eels' history. But for star halfback Peter Sterling, it was the game that almost never was.
"I was driving to the ground with my dad and we were joking about how bad the traffic was down Victoria Road and how awful it would be not to get to the ground in time," Sterling recalls.
"An hour later, we were still stuck in traffic and suddenly it didn't seem too funny."
With Sydney peak hour traffic in gridlock, Sterling realised he had to take drastic measures.
"I jumped out of the car with my kit bag and waved down a motorcyclist who was weaving between the traffic," he says. "He had no idea who I was but I said to him, 'Mate, can you get me to Leichhardt Oval...I'm in a hurry'.
"I jumped on the back and in about 10 yards, he went from nought to 100 kilometres an hour. I was hanging on for grim life and screamed into his ear, 'Mate, I'm not in that much of a hurry'.
"At one stage, we weaved through a bus shelter as people went scattering, but he got me there on time.
"And it's a good thing, too, because when I finally caught up with my dad after the match, he told me he missed the kick off, the traffic was that bad."
If Sterlo was left shaken by his white-knuckle ride, he didn't show any ill-effects once the game kicked off. The little maestro was at the peak of his powers in '86, and steered the Eels to a 32-16 win over the Tigers, picking up man-of-the-match honours.
But when he held the Tooth Cup aloft, as seen in this picture, he could scarcely have dreamed what lay ahead.
"That was a very special year," Sterling recalls. "From there, we went on to win the minor premiership and the grand final as well as the club championship.
"So it was a clean sweep of every major title there was that year and it's something we are very proud of."
Eels coach John Monie brought utility and former Rothmans Medal winner Mike Eden into the team for the game.
"Mick Cronin was out injured and they needed a goalkicker, so I got a start," Eden says. "We had a red-hot team and although Balmain were known as the 'Cup Kings' we were always very confident. We had the wood on the Tigers back then and always seemed to do well against them.
"Our pack was very strong and workmanlike but we didn't have any mongrels. There were some scary forward packs back then at clubs like Souths and Canterbury but the Tigers weren't a mongrel pack either so it was a pretty clean game, for a final."
When the Eels returned to training the next day, several players had good natured jibes at Eden.
"They said I was in every photo in the newspaper - I didn't miss a single one," he laughs.
Remarkably after being so dominant that memorable winter, the Eels haven't won a major title since.
"That," Sterling says, "is another story. We have been paying the price for poor recruitment and some strange management decisions for a long time."

1986 Tooth Cup Final
Parramatta: Mick Delroy, Brian Jackson, Steve Ella, John Muggleton, Mike Eden, Brett Kenny, Peter Sterling, Ray Price (c), Mark Laurie, Peter Wynn, Terry Leabeater, Michael Moseley, Geoff Bugden.
Balmain: Gary Jack, Russel Gartner, Scott Gale, Gary Schofield, John Davidson, Tony Myler, Gary Bridge, Wayne Pearce (c), David Brooks, Paul Sironen, Steve Roach, Ben Elias, Kerry Hemsley.

Parramatta 32 (B.Kenny 2, J.Muggleton, S.Ella, P.Wynn, G.Bugden tries, M.Eden 4 goals) defeated Balmain 16 (S.Gale, T.Myler, S.Humphreys tries, G.Schofield 2 goals) at Leichhardt Oval, June 4, 1986. Referee: Kevin Roberts. Crowd: 15,839.