Stephenson began his career with Salford, he 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. Stephenson played right-, i.e. number 3, in the 15-4 victory over Leeds in the 1982–83 John Player Trophy Final during the 1982–83 season at Elland Road, Leeds on Saturday 22 January 1983. Stephenson played right-, i.e. number 3, in the 6-19 defeat by Widnes in the 1984 Challenge Cup Final during the 1983–84 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 5 May 1984. Stephenson played right-, i.e. number 3, in the 18-26 defeat by St. Helens in the 1984Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1984–85 season at Central Park, Wigan, on Sunday 28 October 1984, played right-, i.e. number 3, and scored a goal in the 28-24 victory over Hull F.C. in 1985 Challenge Cup Final during the 1984–85 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 4 May 1985, in front of a crowd of 99,801. Stephenson played right-, i.e. number 3, and scored 3-goalss in the 14-8 victory over New Zealand at Central Park, Wigan on Sunday 6 October 1985, played right-, i.e. number 3, and scored 7-goals in the 34-8 victory over Warrington in the 1985LancashireCounty Cup Final during the 1985–86 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Sunday 13 October 1985, played right-, i.e. number 3, and scored a goal in the 11-8 victory over Hull Kingston Rovers in the 1985–86 John Player Special Trophy Final during the 1985–86 season 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-, i.e. number 3, in the 27-6 victory over Oldham in the 1986 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1986–87 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Sunday 19 October 1986, played, i.e. number 2, in the 18-4 victory over Warrington in the 1986–87 John Player Special Trophy Final during the 1986–87 season at Burnden Park, Bolton on Saturday 10 January 1987, played in the victory in the Championship during the 1986–87 season, played right-, i.e. number 3, and scored a goal in the 8-0 victory over Warrington in Premiership Final during the 1986–87 season at Old Trafford, Manchester on Sunday 17 May 1987. Stephenson played right-, i.e. number 3, 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-, i.e. number 3, and scored a goal in the 28-16 victory over Warrington in the 1987 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1987–88 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Sunday 11 October 1987, in 1987 Stephenson also represented Great Britain against France, and Papua New Guinea.
Leeds
Stephenson played left-, i.e. number 4, and scored 6-goals, setting the most goals in a Yorkshire County Cup Final record, in Leeds' 33-12 victory over Castleford in the 1988Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1988–89 season 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, and New Zealand, and he was selected to go on the 1988 Great Britain Lions tour.
