‘Helensburgh’s greatest ever’: Local league legend Steve McCallum set to hit milestone 250 game mark
Local rugby league legend Steve McCallum is set to play his 250th game in the orange and black of Helensburgh Tiger this weekend. Hear from the great man ahead of his milestone match.
Illawarra Star
Don't miss out on the headlines from Illawarra Star. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The term ‘legend’ might have somewhat lost its value in the modern sporting climate, but no one can contest that the Helensburgh Tigers have a true local legend of the game on their hands who’ll be celebrating a milestone this weekend.
37-year-old Steve McCallum is set to kit up in the orange and black of Helensburgh for the 250th time this weekend as the First Division side take on Collegians.
Affectionately known as ‘Tower’, the 6’5’ prop forward has spent over half his life taking hit ups for the club he loves and is worthy of some celebrations on the weekend.
“I’ve retired a couple of times,” McCallum joked.
“The body’s holding up surprisingly well, I expected to be battling more.
“I was never that fast anyway, but the game has slowed down a little bit around me as well which is good.”
McCallum appeared to have hung up the boots having spent the last few years travelling prior to the 2023 season and enjoying life in an atmosphere that didn’t involve tackling opposition forward packs.
Then after being called up to play in the Fire and Rescue NSW team to take on the Australian Defence Force on Anzac Day this year, McCallum admits he “got the itch” to get the boots back on for another season.
“Every year when the footy comes back around on TV, you start to wonder if you’ve still got it in you,” McCallum said.
“I’m still enjoying it every week, I get those butterflies before taking the first touch.
Helensburgh are playing in the First Division this year, having not had the numbers to sustain a spot in the Illawarra Cup.
Coaching the side is Hayden Warren, who says that the experience McCallum brings to the side is invaluable.
“Last week against Dapto he played 80 minutes as the oldest bloke on the park and was our Man of the Match,” Warren said.
“He brings that confidence to the middle which rubs off on those around him.
“He’s a great communicator on the field, if something needs fixing, he’s the one to say it and people listen.
“He’s the definition of reliability.”
Having debuted for the U18s in 2003, McCallum is Helensburgh through and through, identifying captaining the Tigers to their 2015 grand final triumph in the Illawarra Cup as his career highlight.
Outside of the game he’s a plumber and has a family of his own where the next generation of McCallum‘s are beginning to follow in the footsteps of their father, with his daughter and two sons all playing in the U6s-U9s at the club.
“For them to be able to have some memories of their dad playing footy is pretty special,” McCallum said.
“They’re my future now, to watch them play is what I want and if I can keep playing then maybe I will.”
This weekend’s milestone match conveniently aligns with the club’s Old Boys reunion and celebration at Rex Jackson Oval, meaning there’ll be an outpouring of support for ‘Tower’.
“A few of the old boys, people with a lot of history at the club, have said that without a doubt he’s Helensburgh’s greatest,” Warren said.
“For what he’s done for the club, not just honours, but his reliability.
“He doesn’t have tickets on himself either, he’s a humble man who just wants to keep playing footy for as long as he can.”
At this stage of his career, McCallum can’t help but avoid the question of hanging up the boots, for good this time.
“Who knows? Never say never,” McCallum said.
“We’ll get to the end of this year and see what happens.”
Illawarra sale and auction results, week ending February 2
Illawarra recorded 11 property sales over a million dollars last week, the latest auction and sales results reveal.
‘Anyone can win the comp’: Upsets continue in Brewer Shield return
After a long break, the U18s Brewer Shield returned on Sunday where the upsets continued in the race to the finals. From punishing spells to lone hands, here’s how round 12 played out.