Beaver: The Steve Menzies Story

by Steve Menzies, Norman Tasker

Steve Menzies has played more games at the top level of Australian rugby league, and scored more tries, than any other forward in history. He is second on the all-time appearance list, within striking distance of the record. Through 16 years at the coalface he has been an exemplary performer; talented and committed on the field, respectful and respected off it.

This book tells the story not just of Steve The Beaver' Menzies, but of the tumultuous period in the game that has seen enormous change. When Beaver started as a teenager back in 1993, it was a simpler game with a more relaxed culture. With the arrival of Super League, big money, suffocating media scrutiny and diminishing club loyalty, rugby league became in many ways a different game altogether.

This book paints the story of Steve Menzies' journey through that change. Of his adaptability and his loyalty to one club. Team mates from Hasler and Toovey to Orofrd and Kennedy, opponents from Fittler and Clyde to Johns and Lockyer. The Beaver' has played with and against the best over two decades. And his partnership with mercurial Cliffy Lyons was legendary.

This is a story of not just matches won and lost, but a picture of the future of a game that has occupied all of Menzies' adult life.

254 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Simon Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic read. Steve was my favourite player growing up. An icon of the game. Fast, tough, smart and loyal. I enjoyed this book immensely and I’m sure the great Norm Tasker contributed heavily to the overall writing and structure (no offence, Beaver). My only gripe was this book was written 12 months too soon. Only a few months after being published, Beaver would go on to play his final game of progressional rugby league in Australia and bow out as an ultimate winner. An updated version is definitely needed.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Steve Menzies was my favourite rugby league player growing up as a kid. Man, did I worship him and those great mid-1990's Manly teams. An easy read that took me back to those days. Great stuff!

[Russell Wenholz · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cut above usual sporting biographies written by the sports person concerned with a journalist. In this case Norman Tasker. The story is not strictly chronologically told. Menzies comes across as the man I had imagined him to be: quintessential good bloke. He mentions several times how much he owes to Cliff Lyons for feeding him passes that resulted in him scoring tries. They had a special understanding. I agree with his opinion that the game has degenerated with so much depending of the barging forward. (Menzies says the ruck has become a game within a game). The kind of forward he was (and Ron Coote was) standing wide of the ruck and having the speed to make a break, is no longer a feature. Interesting to read his involvement in the rugby league “war” of the 1990s and the failure of the amalgamated Northern Eagles. The final chapters on other players, on being a football celebrity and living in the “real” (i.e none rugby league) world show Menzies to be a man of some discernment. Several quotes impressed me: rugby league is fun to play but better if you win, a team has to lose a grand final to win one, with rugby league - work is play and play is work, and emotion can be born of excitement and sensitivity.