Early career Stephenson started his career as a
rugby union player, and represented England at schoolboy level. He made his debut for
Fylde RFC in 1977. He switched to
rugby league in 1979, joining
Salford.
Wigan Stephenson left Salford for
Wigan in 1982 for a club record fee of £60,000. He won
caps for
Great Britain while at Wigan in 1982 against Australia (2 matches). Stephenson played right- in the 15–4 victory over
Leeds in the
1982–83 John Player Trophy Final at
Elland Road,
Leeds on Saturday 22 January 1983. Stephenson played right-, in the 6–19 defeat by
Widnes in the
1984 Challenge Cup Final at
Wembley Stadium,
London on Saturday 5 May 1984. Stephenson played right-, in the 18–26 defeat by
St. Helens in the
1984 Lancashire Cup Final at
Central Park,
Wigan, on Sunday 28 October 1984, played right-, and scored a
goal in the 28–24 victory over
Hull F.C. in
1985 Challenge Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 4 May 1985, in front of a crowd of 99,801. Stephenson played right-, and scored 3-goals in the 14–8 victory over
New Zealand at Central Park, Wigan on Sunday 6 October 1985, played right-, and scored 7-goals in the 34–8 victory over
Warrington in the
1985 Lancashire Cup Final at
Knowsley Road,
St. Helens on Sunday 13 October 1985, played right-, and scored a goal in the 11–8 victory over
Hull Kingston Rovers in the
1985–86 John Player Special Trophy Final at Elland Road, Leeds on Saturday 11 January 1986. He received Wigan's "Player of the Year" award for the
1985–86 season. Stephenson played for Great Britain in 1986 against Australia, played right-, in the 27–6 victory over
Oldham in the
1986 Lancashire Cup Final at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Sunday 19 October 1986, played , in the 18–4 victory over Warrington in the
1986–87 John Player Special Trophy Final at
Burnden Park,
Bolton on Saturday 10 January 1987, played in the victory in the
Championship during the
1986–87 season, played right-, and scored a goal in the 8–0 victory over Warrington in the 1986–87
Premiership Final at
Old Trafford, Manchester on Sunday 17 May 1987. Stephenson played right-, and scored 4-goals for all of Wigan's points in the 8–4 victory over
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the
1987 World Club Challenge at Central Park, Wigan on Wednesday 7 October 1987, played right-, and scored a goal in the 28–16 victory over Warrington in the
1987 Lancashire Cup Final at Knowsley Road, St Helens on Sunday 11 October 1987. In 1987 Stephenson also represented Great Britain against France, and Papua New Guinea.
Leeds In January 1988, Stephenson was signed by
Leeds for a fee of £75,000. Stephenson played left- and scored 6-goals, setting the most goals in a
Yorkshire Cup Final record, in
Leeds' 33–12 victory over
Castleford in the
1988 Yorkshire Cup Final at Elland Road, Leeds, on Sunday 16 October 1988. While at Leeds he played for Great Britain in 1988 against France, Papua New Guinea, Australia (2 matches), and New Zealand, and he was selected to go on the
1988 Great Britain Lions tour. ==References==