Steven Folkes

A beloved clubman, coach and figure, Steven Folkes (Bulldog no.432) holds a distinguished place in Canterbury-Bankstown's long and esteemed history. 

A local junior with Bankstown Sports, Folkes rose to grade in 1977, becoming a regular member of the Under 23s team as a halfback, before moving further infield with his rise through the Club's system.

During his time in reserve grade, he set the record for most tries in a game with four before getting an opportunity in first-grade to debut as a replacement against South Sydney in 1978.

In 1979, Folkes became a regular member of the first grade team, featuring in the Grand Final against St George, before moving into the second row on a full-time basis and becoming a Premiership winner in the famous 1980 triumph. 

He remained a consistent performer for the Bulldogs in the early 1980s, becoming the side's 'Mr Fix-It' and filling in where required; highlighting his team-first mentality.  

His first of sixteen games as Captain came in 1984, the same year he would help Canterbury lift the Premiership trophy, doing so again the following season where he was awarded Life Membership of the Football Club. 

Folkes' on-field contributions to the Bulldogs were awarded when he debuted for NSW and Australia in 1986, going on to play nine games for the Blues and five Tests for the Kangaroos. 

Another Premiership victory came in 1988 against Balmain, while Folkes' commitment to the Canterbury cause saw another personal milestone achieved in 1989, where he became the first player since 1935 to achieve 300 Club games. 

Despite a brief stint at Hull FC in England's north in the 1989-90 off-season, Folkes returned for one last hurrah in Belmore, with his 245th and final first-grade match in coming in the fifth-place playoff against Western Suburbs. 

Steven continued with the Club as a trainer and was appointed Reserve Grade coach in 1996, leading the team to win the reserve grade Super League Grand Final against Auckland.

In 1998, Folkes was appointed first grade coach, finding early success as his team reached the Grand Final against Brisbane after qualifying 9th - which remains as the only side in history to do so. 

Folkes successfully navigated a tumultuous period for the Club between 2002-2004 to bring the Bulldogs back to Premiership glory in 2004. In doing so, he became just the second individual to win a Grand Final as player and coach for Canterbury alongside brother-in-law Chris Anderson, claiming the Dally M Coach of the Year Award in the process. 

Folkes' esteemed tenure as coach finished in 2008, culminating in 288 games, 162 wins for a 56.3% win rate, seven finals appearances, two Grand Finals and a Premiership as the longest-serving mentor in Club history. 

In 2004, Steven was named in the Berries to Bulldogs 70 Year Team of Champions in the second row, before being inducted into the Bulldogs Ring of Champions in 2007. 

On 11th February 2025, he was posthumously inducted in the Canterbury-Bankstown Hall of Fame as part of the Club's 90-Year Anniversary celebrations alongside Johnny Greaves and Hazem El Masri. 

"Preparation is everything."

Steve Folkes