BY BRETT NIERENGARTEN @PRORODEOBRETT
Rocker Steiner had one of the most anticipated rookie seasons of the last 10 years.
The son and grandson of a World Champion, Rocker Steiner lived up to his family’s energetic reputation immediately in professional rodeo by winning the Sandhills Stock Show and Rodeo in his pro debut and the prestigious National Western Stock Show and Rodeo within a few weeks of that.
Steiner’s success did not stop there. His first year in the PRCA will be remembered for big wins and record-setting rides.
He makes his first trip to the Thomas & Mack Center at No. 4 in the PRCA World Standings with $134,328.
BIGGEST PAYDAYS
Calgary Stampede, $66,000
Steiner was unstoppable from start to finish in his Calgary Stampede debut. In Pool B, he made $16,000 to advance with the most money for a bareback rider in either of the two pools. He made got the job done by placing in all four rounds and winning Rounds 1 and 4.
Steiner sealed the win and the $50,000 payday that comes with it with a 91.5-point ride on Yippee Kibbitz. The other three Showdown finalists were Orin Larsen, Tim O’Connell and Caleb Bennett. Those three have combined to make 27 NFRs.
RodeoHouston, $26,850
Before he did it in Calgary, Steiner proved he could handle some of rodeo’s brightest lights by finishing second in Houston in March. He won two of three rounds in his SuperSeries before making rides of 91 and 88 points on Championship Sunday. His 88-point ride in the Shootout put him one point behind Jess Pope.
HIGHEST MARKED RIDES
Riggin’ Rally Xtreme Broncs (Darby), 95 Points
Steiner matching up with C5 Rodeo’s Virgil in the Finals of the Darby Riggin’ Rally gave fans all they could ask for. He spurred the big grey for 95 points, a new World Record.
Last Chance Stampede, 92 Points
About six weeks after breaking the World Record, Steiner and Virgil met again, this time teaming up to win the Last Chance Stampede in Helena.
NOTABLE WINS
Ellensburg Rodeo, 175.5 Points on Two
Steiner won the Finals and the Average in a rodeo that featured six 2022 NFR qualifiers finishing in the Top 8. Steiner won over $7,000 at the event.
National Western Stock Show and Rodeo, 87.5 Points
In what was really his breakout performance, Steiner finished the rodeo with three straight rides of 84 or better, including an 87.5-point ride in the Finals to split first with 2021 Resistol Rookie of the Year Cole Franks.
Rodeo of the Ozarks, 87.5 Points
Steiner rode Harper & Morgan’s Apollo for 87.5 points to beat Tim O’Connell and R.C. Landingham by two at the one-header in Springdale, Arkansas.
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