Roosters jersey honours “Stumpy’ Stevens

The Sydney Roosters’ have continued the tradition of honouring a former player on the annual Indigenous jersey, with their name proudly presented in the unique ‘Boomerang V’ design.

This year, the 2025 Indigenous Jersey is dedicated to Rooster #637 Kevin Stevens.

Designed by his niece Casey Armfield-Stevens, the jersey highlights themes of family and home, strongly reflecting the ethos the Sydney Roosters are built on.

Kevin ‘Stumpy’ Stevens arrived at Easts with his brother Terry, both proud Gumbaynggirr men from South Grafton, the pair would go on to share the field in the 1973 and ’74 seasons.

Stumpy was an instrumental piece to the champion sides of the 1970’s, displaying versatility, team-first attitude, and above all, a tenacity he would become famous for in his seven seasons at Bondi.

A testament to his hard work throughout the 1975 season, Steven’s was named at starting Lock position in the Grand Final. This saw the likes of established locks Ron Coote and Barry Reilly shuffled to different positions. The Roosters would famously go on to dominate the Grand Final, beating St George 38-0.

Stevens collected many accolades in his 103 first-grade games for Easts. Playing Lock in the 1975 and 1978 Amco Mid-Season Cup winning teams, five-eighth in the 1974 Wills Preseason Cup victory, and halfback in the World Club Challenge one year later, where he would score a try.

Stevens also became the third Indigenous man to reach the prestigious 100 game milestone at the Club.

Steven’s niece, Casey Armfield-Stevens, leapt at the opportunity to represent her uncle and family in this year’s Jersey design.

“It’s an amazing opportunity and something that I definitely wanted to do for my uncle,” Armfield-Stevens noted, “I’m speechless, over the moon and honoured.”

Casey’s main design themes revolve around ‘Family’ and ‘Home, a place of belonging.’

Illustrating this are six bright stars on the jersey that offer two meanings.

The first, a homage to her childhood, where her earliest and fondest memories are watching the stars over their hut at Jackadgery with her father and uncle, a place they still visit and come together as a family.

The second, the six stars representing the members of Kevin’s direct family; his parents James and Edna and his siblings Aileen, Roger, Terry and of course Kevin.

The two circles illustrate Kevin’s and Terry’s brotherly bond, with Casey explaining their connection was more than just blood, they strengthened their relationship through footy.

“Kevin and dad are both very strong independent men. They love their family and will do anything for them, it’s that real family connection,” she said.

The symbols around the circles represent the many teammates and supporters throughout their careers.

Tying into the theme of ‘Home’, Casey integrated their family totem of the eel-tailed catfish alongside the water that runs through the artwork; a representation of the river between Jackadgery to Cangai.

The six symbols underneath the number represent Kevin’s family. His wife Kathy, daughter Kylie, son Grant and his three grandchildren Ivy, Daisy and Freddie. Further strengthening the family identity that Armfield-Stevens has illustrated in this design.