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Steven Renouf (born 8 June 1970) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. Nicknamed 'the Pearl', he was known as one of the sport's greatest s. Renouf set numerous records for the Brisbane Broncos club. After spending eleven years with Brisbane, which yielded four premierships, he left Australia to play for English club Wigan Warriors, where he spent two seasons before retiring. He was named in Australia's Indigenous team of the century (1908–2007).
In the weeks following the Broncos Grand Final win, Renouf travelled with the Kangaroos to England for the 1992 World Cup final at the famous Wembley Stadium. Renouf made his début for Australia in front of an international rugby league record attendance of 73,631 fans, scoring the only try of the match after running off a pass from Broncos teammate Kevin Walters in the second half. Australia defeated Great Britain 10–6 to win their sixth Rugby League World Cup. A week later, Renouf played for Brisbane in the 1992 World Club Challenge against 1991–92 British champions Wigan Warriors at Central Park in Wigan. The Broncos capped their best year by defeating Wigan 22–8 and becoming the first Australian team to win the World Club Challenge in England.
In 1997, Renouf scored 14 tries, which included a hat-trick against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the 1997 Super League grand final on 20 September at ANZ Stadium in Brisbane's 26–8 victory. He was therefore named man-of-the-match. No other player would score 3 tries in a Grand Final until Manly winger Michael Robertson did so in 2008.
He played centre for the Brisbane Broncos in their win at the 1998 NRL grand final. Over a decade after leaving the Broncos he was still the club's all-time leading try scorer, having amassed a total of 142 tries.
In 2000, Renouf was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for his contribution to Australia's international standing in rugby league. Renouf played for the Wigan Warriors at centre their 2000 Super League Grand Final loss against St Helens R.F.C. His final game for the Wigan Warriors and indeed his last game at the highest level was the 2001 Super League Grand Final on 13 October at Old Trafford in Manchester. His side lost to the Bradford Bulls by 37–6.
Upon his time at Wigan Warriors, Renouf quoted "The two years at Wigan were absolutely brilliant. I would have liked to stay but they didn’t want to retain me" "Wigan Warriors – Steve Renouf" profile, URL retrieved 11 July 2006.
In August 2008, Renouf was named at centre in the Indigenous Team of the Century.
| + !Season !Team !Appearances !Tries !Goals !Goal-kicking percentage !Field Goals !Points | |||||||
| 1989 NSWRL Season | Brisbane Broncos | 10 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1990 NSWRL Season | Brisbane Broncos | 4 | 2 | – | – | – | 8 |
| 1991 NSWRL Season | Brisbane Broncos | 20 | 15 | – | – | – | 60 |
| 1992 NSWRL Season | Brisbane Broncos | 23 | 12 | – | – | – | 48 |
| 1993 NSWRL Season | Brisbane Broncos | 18 | 16 | – | – | – | 64 |
| 1994 NSWRL Season | Brisbane Broncos | 21 | 23 | – | – | – | 92 |
| 1995 ARL Season | Brisbane Broncos | 14 | 15 | – | – | – | 60 |
| 1996 ARL Season | Brisbane Broncos | 22 | 19 | – | – | – | 76 |
| 1997 Super League season | Brisbane Broncos | 15 | 14 | – | – | – | 56 |
| 1998 NRL Season | Brisbane Broncos | 26 | 20 | – | – | – | 80 |
| 1999 NRL Season | Brisbane Broncos | 10 | 6 | – | – | – | 24 |
| 2000 Challenge Cup | Wigan Warriors | 3 | 3 | – | – | – | 12 |
| 2000 Super League V | Wigan Warriors | 29 | 20 | – | – | – | 80 |
| 2001 Challenge Cup | Wigan Warriors | 1 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2001 Super League VI | Wigan Warriors | 26 | 20 | – | – | – | 80 |
| + !Years !Team !Appearances !Tries !Goals !Goal-kicking percentage !Field Goals !Points | |||||||
| 1991–1994,
1996,
1998 | Queensland | 11 | 2 | – | – | – | 8 |
| 1997 | Queensland (Super League) | 2 | 2 | – | – | – | 8 |
| 1992–1994, 1998 | Australia | 10 | 11 | – | – | – | 44 |
| 1997 | Australia (Super League) | 1 | – | – | – | – | – |
Renouf has an apprenticeship as an electrician and has also worked in the industry of sales and marketing. "Role Models – Steve Renouf" article, URL retrieved 11 July 2006. He has five children – four sons and one daughter. He is currently working for the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health, as an Ambassador for the Deadly Choices preventative health program.
Since retirement, Renouf has worked as a sideline commentator for Triple M's Blood, Sweat and Beers sports show.
In February 2006, a biography of Renouf was released. Entitled The Pearl: Steve Renouf's Story, the book details his career as a professional rugby league footballer, but it also covers his early life, including his family heritage and his childhood in the Queensland town of Murgon. It also discusses how, as an Aboriginal, he had to overcome prejudices from people around him.
In July 2025, Renouf was charged with high-range drink driving after allegedly blowing nearly four times the legal limit. It is alleged Renouf returned a BAC of 0.197 per cent when he was taken to the Brisbane City Watchhouse for further tests. His licence was immediately suspended, and he was charged with one count of driving under the influence of liquor.
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