Coaching Career
After serving as reserve grade coach of the Bulldogs between 1996 and 1997, Folkes was appointed coach of the Bulldogs to succeed Chris Anderson. In his first year as coach, the Bulldogs made the 1998 NRL grand final, where they lost to Wayne Bennett's Brisbane Broncos.
The Bulldogs appeared poised to claim the 2002 NRL premiership but were disqualified and stripped 37 premiership points after a major salary cap breach was uncovered. Folkes claimed his premiership two seasons later with a 16–13 defeat of the Sydney Roosters in the grand final.
Steve Folkes was awarded Dally M Coach of the Year in 2004.
The 2004 grand final victory continues a unique tradition at the Bulldogs - every coach appointed by the club since 1978 - (Ted Glossop, Warren Ryan, Phil Gould, Chris Anderson and Folkes) - has won a premiership. At the end of the 2007 season, Folkes' win record with the Bulldogs was 60%. On 7 April 2008, the Bulldogs announced that Folkes tenure as would end with the 2008 season.
Following his departure from the Bulldogs, Folkes took up a position as strength and conditioning coach for the West Indies cricket team. In October 2009, Folkes returned to rugby league, accepting the role of strength and conditioning coach for the Wests Tigers. In 2011, he was an assistant coach with the club.
It was announced in May 2011 that Folkes would join the St George Illawarra Dragons as the assistant coach to Steve Price from 2012.
Folkes is married to Karen, who is the daughter of Bulldogs 'godfather', Peter Moore.
Read more about this topic: Steve Folkes
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“My ambition in life: to become successful enough to resume my career as a neurasthenic.”
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