View source for Steven Michaels

{{Short description|Australian rugby league footballer}}
{{distinguish|Stephen Michael}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2013}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name           = Steve Michaels
|fullname       = Steven Michael Michaels
|nickname       = 
|image          = Steven Michaels.jpg
|image_size     = 
|birth_date     = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1987|01|13}}
|birth_place    = [[Southport, Queensland|Southport]], [[Queensland]], [[Australia]]
|height         = {{convert|181|cm|ftin|0|abbr=on}}<ref name="hull">{{cite web|url=http://www.hullfc.com/first-team/profile/262539/steve-michaels|title=Hull 1st Team Steve Michaels|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|date=2015|website= Hull FC|publisher= Hull FC|access-date=17 July 2015}}</ref>
|weight         = {{convert|88|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}<ref name="hull"/>
|retired        = yes
|position       = {{rlp|WG|CE}}
|club1          = [[Brisbane Broncos]]
|year1start     = 2005
|year1end       = 09
|appearances1   = 60
|tries1         = 22
|goals1         = 0
|fieldgoals1    = 0
|points1        = 88
|club2          = {{nowrap|[[Gold Coast Titans]]}}
|year2start     = 2010
|year2end       = 14
|appearances2   = 60
|tries2         = 23
|goals2         = 0
|fieldgoals2    = 0
|points2        = 92
|club3          = [[Hull F.C.]]
|year3start     = 2015
|year3end       = 17
|appearances3   = 77
|tries3         = 31
|goals3         = 0
|fieldgoals3    = 0
|points3        = 124
|club4          = {{nowrap|→ [[Doncaster RLFC|Doncaster]]}} 
|year4start     = 2015<small>(DR)</small>
|year4end       = 
|appearances4   = 1
|tries4         = 0
|goals4         = 0
|fieldgoals4    = 0 
|points4        = 0
| teamA         = {{nowrap|[[Queensland Residents]]}}
| yearAstart    = 2010
| yearAend      = 
| appearancesA  = 1
| triesA        = 0
| goalsA        = 0
| fieldgoalsA   = 0
| pointsA       = 0
|updated        = 5 January 2024
|source         = <ref>[https://www.loverugbyleague.com/stats/players/Steve-Michaels/ loverugbyleague]</ref><ref name="Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/steve-michaels/summary.html|title=Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org|publisher=rugbyleagueproject.org|date=31 December 2017|access-date=1 January 2018}}</ref>
}}

'''Steven Michael Michaels''' (born 13 January 1987) is an Australian professional [[rugby league]] footballer who played in the 2000s and 2010s. He's played in the [[National Rugby League]] (NRL) and the [[Super League]]. His usual position was as a {{rlp|wg}} but he also played {{rlp|ce}}. Michaels previously played for [[Hull F.C.|Hull FC]], the [[Brisbane Broncos]], and the [[Gold Coast Titans]].<ref name="Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org"/>

==Background==
Son of [[Ralph Michaels]], a centre for [[Norths Devils|Brisbane Norths]] in the 1970s, Steve Michaels played for the [[Australia national schoolboys rugby league team|Australian Schoolboys team]] in 2004 while attending Palm Beach Currumbin Secondary High School.<ref>{{cite web|title=SportingPulse Homepage for Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League|url=http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=7-2130-0-0-0&sID=26424|access-date=2008-10-10| publisher=SportingPulse}}</ref>

==Professional playing career==
===Brisbane Broncos===
In 2006, he broke into first grade, but then fractured his ankle and had to spend over three months on the sideline. He returned to play in the [[Queensland Cup]], then played in the State League decider.
As 2006 NRL Premiers, the [[Brisbane Broncos]] travelled to [[United Kingdom|Britain]] to face 2006 [[Super League]] champions, [[St Helens R.F.C.|St. Helens]] in the [[2007 World Club Challenge]]. Michaels played on the wing in the Broncos' 14–18 loss.

Michaels played in every minute of every game for the 2007 season, and his good form was rewarded when he was selected to play in the [[Prime Minister's XIII]] against [[Papua New Guinea national rugby league team|Papua New Guinea]] at the end of the season. But Michaels pulled out of the game when he had, what was suspected to be pneumonia.<ref>[http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,22444563-23214,00.html Broncos irate with ARL chief – League – Fox Sports<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

He was hoping to gain a slot in the {{rlp|ce}}s for [[National Rugby League season 2008|2008]]<ref name="Michaels wants centre of attention">{{cite web|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,23249361-23214,00.html|title=Michaels wants centre of attention|publisher=Fox Sports|date=2008-02-21|access-date=2008-02-22}}</ref> and did so, but in [[2008 NRL season results#Round 7|round 7]] suffered a season-ending knee injury. He made his return in round one of the [[2009 NRL season]]. He partners with [[Antonio Winterstein]] on the left flank.

In April 2009, he was named in the preliminary 25 man squad to represent [[Queensland state rugby league team|Queensland]] in the opening [[Rugby League State of Origin|State of Origin]] match for 2009.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=[[Fox Sports (Australia)|Fox Sports]]|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25398645-5016947,00.html|title=Queensland name preliminary State of Origin squad|access-date=2009-04-28|date=2009-04-28|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120918133045/http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25398645-5016947,00.html|archive-date=18 September 2012 }}</ref>

===Gold Coast Titans===
In May 2010, Michaels was released from the [[Brisbane Broncos]] so he could join local rivals, the [[Gold Coast Titans]] on a deal until 2012.<ref>[http://www.foxsports.com.au/league/nrl-premiership/steve-michaels-released-from-brisbane-broncos-joins-gold-coast-titans/story-fn2mcuj6-1225920581264?from=public_rss "Steve Michaels released from Brisbane Broncos joins Gold Coast Titans"] (28 May 2010) ''[[Fox Sports (Australia)|Fox Sports]]''</ref>

In his first year at the Gold Coast, Michaels was part of the Gold Coast side which reached the 2010 preliminary final against the [[Sydney Roosters]] but were defeated 32–6 at [[Suncorp Stadium]].  The following year, Michaels played 23 games and scored 9 tries as the Gold Coast finished last on the table and claimed the wooden spoon.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/parramatta-eels-defeat-the-gold-coast-titans-to-avoid-wooden-spoon-for-2011/news-story/fc87216a6a23a4b8d0eefd6174b60c47/|title=Parramatta Eels defeat the Gold Coast Titans to avoid wooden spoon for 2011|website=The Daily Telegraph|location=London}}</ref>

On 5 September 2014, Michaels signed with Hull F.C. on a one-year deal starting from 2015.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/rugby-league/29085528|title = Hull FC sign Titans centre Michaels|publisher = BBC Sport}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.zerotackle.com/super-league/hull-fc-sign-titans-centre-michaels-1521/ |title=Hull FC sign Titans centre Michaels {{!}} Super League {{!}} Zero Tackle |website=zerotackle.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140909020429/http://www.zerotackle.com/super-league/hull-fc-sign-titans-centre-michaels-1521/ |archive-date=2014-09-09}}</ref>

Michaels was named in an ongoing investigation into players and ex-players supplying cocaine.<ref>http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/gold-coast-titans/former-gold-coast-titans-ashley-harrison-steve-michaels-charged-with-supplying-a-dangerous-drug-20150227-13r7v6.html?eid=socialn%3Afac-14omn0013-optim-nnn%3Anonpaid-25%2F06%2F2014-social_traffic-all-organicpost-nnn-smh-o&campaign_code=nocode&promote_channel=social_facebook/  
Former Gold Coast Titans Ashley Harrison, Steve Michaels charged with supplying a dangerous drug at [[Sydney Morning Herald]]</ref>

===Hull F.C.===
In 2015, Michaels joined English side Hull F.C.

He played in the [[2016 Challenge Cup Final]] victory over the [[Warrington Wolves]] at [[Wembley Stadium]].<ref name="Hull FC’s Jamie Shaul’s late try takes Challenge Cup away from Warrington">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/aug/27/hull-warrington-challenge-cup-final-match-report|title=Hull FC's Jamie Shaul's late try takes Challenge Cup away from Warrington|work=The Guardian|date=27 August 2016|access-date=7 November 2019}}</ref><ref name="Challenge Cup final: Hull FC 12-10 Warrington Wolves">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/37169016|title=Challenge Cup final: Hull FC 12-10 Warrington Wolves|publisher=BBC|date=27 August 2016|access-date=7 November 2019}}</ref>

He played with the club until the end of the 2017 season before retiring.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/41173899/|title=Steve Michaels: Hull FC winger to leave at end of the season|publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref>

===Statistics===
{| class="wikitable" style="border-collapse:collapse;text-align:center"
|- bgcolor=#bdb76b
! Season
! Club
! width="40"|{{Tooltip|Pld|Played}}
! width="40"|{{Tooltip|T|Tries}}
! width="40"|{{Tooltip|G|Goals}}
! width="40"|{{Tooltip|FG|Field goals}}
! width="40"|{{Tooltip|P|Points}}
|-
|align="center"|[[2005 Brisbane Broncos season|2005]]
|  align="left"|{{nowrap|{{leagueicon|Brisbane Broncos|16}} [[Brisbane Broncos]]}}
| align="right"|3
| align="right"|2
| align="right"|0
| align="right"|0
| align="right"|8
|-
|align="center"|[[2006 Brisbane Broncos season|2006]]
|  align="left"|{{nowrap|{{leagueicon|Brisbane Broncos|16}} [[Brisbane Broncos]]}}
| align="right"|4
| align="right"|1
| align="right"|0
| align="right"|0
| align="right"|4
|-
|align="center"|[[2007 Brisbane Broncos season|2007]]
|  align="left"|{{nowrap|{{leagueicon|Brisbane|16}} [[Brisbane Broncos]]}}
| align="right"|25
| align="right"|10
| align="right"|0
| align="right"|0
| align="right"|40
|-
|align="center"|[[2008 Brisbane Broncos season|2008]]
|  align="left"|{{nowrap|{{leagueicon|Brisbane Broncos|16}} [[Brisbane Broncos]]}}
| align="right"|7
| align="right"|1
| align="right"|0
| align="right"|0
| align="right"|4
|-
|align="center"|[[2009 Brisbane Broncos season|2009]]
|  align="left"|{{nowrap|{{leagueicon|Brisbane Broncos|16}} [[Brisbane Broncos]]}}
| align="right"|19
| align="right"|8
| align="right"|0
| align="right"|0
| align="right"|32
|-
|align="center"|[[2010 Brisbane Broncos season|2010]]
|  align="left"|{{nowrap|{{leagueicon|Brisbane Broncos|16}} [[Brisbane Broncos]]}}
| align="right"|10
| align="right"|4
| align="right"|0
| align="right"|0
| align="right"|16
|-
|align="center"|[[2011 Gold Coast Titans season|2011]]
|  align="left"|{{nowrap|{{leagueicon|Gold Coast Titans|16}} [[Gold Coast Titans]]}}
| align="right"|23
| align="right"|10
| align="right"|0
| align="right"|0
| align="right"|40
|-
|align="center"|[[2012 Gold Coast Titans season|2012]]
|  align="left"|{{nowrap|{{leagueicon|Gold Coast Titans|16}} [[Gold Coast Titans]]}}
| align="right"|17
| align="right"|8
| align="right"|0
| align="right"|0
| align="right"|32
|-
|align="center"|[[2013 Gold Coast Titans season|2013]]
|  align="left"|{{nowrap|{{leagueicon|Gold Coast Titans|16}} [[Gold Coast Titans]]}}
| align="right"|9
| align="right"|2
| align="right"|0
| align="right"|0
| align="right"|8
|-
|align="center"|[[2014 Gold Coast Titans season|2014]]
|  align="left"|{{nowrap|{{leagueicon|Gold Coast Titans|16}} [[Gold Coast Titans]]}}
| align="right"|2
| align="right"|0
| align="right"|0
| align="right"|0
| align="right"|0
|-
|align="center"|[[2015 Hull FC season|2015]]
|  align="left"|{{nowrap|{{leagueicon|Hull FC|16}} [[Hull FC]]}}
| align="right"|26
| align="right"|8
| align="right"|0
| align="right"|0
| align="right"|32
|-
|align="center"|[[2016 Hull FC season|2016]]
|  align="left"|{{nowrap|{{leagueicon|Hull FC|16}} [[Hull FC]]}}
| align="right"|29
| align="right"|13
| align="right"|0
| align="right"|0
| align="right"|52
|-
|align="center"|[[2017 Hull FC season|2017]]
|  align="left"|{{nowrap|{{leagueicon|Hull FC|16}} [[Hull FC]]}}
| align="right"|23
| align="right"|10
| align="right"|0
| align="right"|0
| align="right"|40
|-
|
| align="right"|'''Totals:'''
| align="right"|'''197'''
| align="right"|'''76'''
| align="right"|'''0'''
| align="right"|'''0'''
| align="right"|'''304'''
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.hullfc.com/team/first-team/steve-michaels Hull FC profile]
*''[http://www.titans.com.au/default.aspx?s=player-profile-display&id=3719&player=steve-michaels&team=Titans Steve Michaels] at the [[Gold Coast Titans]] official website.''
*[http://www.rugby-league.com/superleague/player-info/2269 SL profile]

{{Hull F.C. - 2016 Challenge Cup Final winners}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Michaels, Steve}}
[[Category:1987 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Australian rugby league players]]
[[Category:Australian expatriate rugby league players in England]]
[[Category:Brisbane Broncos players]]
[[Category:Burleigh Bears players]]
[[Category:Gold Coast Titans players]]
[[Category:Prime Minister's XIII players]]
[[Category:Queensland Residents rugby league team players]]
[[Category:Rugby league centres]]
[[Category:Rugby league players from the Gold Coast, Queensland]]
[[Category:Rugby league wingers]]
[[Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen]]