The 1996 Illawarra Steelers season was the fifteenth in the club's history. They competed in the Australian Rugby League's 1996 Optus Cup season, finishing in 14th place on the ladder, missing out on the finals for the fourth year in a row. The Reserve Grade and President's Cup teams both missed out on their respective Grand Finals by one game, whilst the junior Steelers - the S.G. Ball and Harold Matthew's sides both won their competitions.
Player movements Gains Player Previous club Losses Player Joined Club
Squad
(c)
Draw and results
Quick summary 1996 Illawarra Steelers season summary Round Home Score Away1Steelers 8-17 Wests2 Auckland18-10Steelers3 Brisbane 54-4 Steelers4Steelers56-14 Souths5 Chargers 28-20 Steelers6Steelers 20-30 Auckland Round Home Score Away7Steelers 18-14 Sth Qld8 Nth Qld 24-8 Steelers9Steelers 18-12 Dragons10 Canterbury 12-0 Steelers11 Canberra 16-14 Steelers12Steelers 14-6 Brisbane Round Home Score Away13 Nth Syd 48-18 Steelers14Steelers 8-16 Manly15Steelers 18-19 Reds16 Eels 34-18 Steelers17Steelers 16-32 Sydney18 Newcastle 22-34 Steelers Round Home Score Away19Steelers 21-14 Sharks20 Balmain 16-14 Steelers21Steelers 42-2 Penrith22 Wests 12-8 Steelers
Regular season
March
O'Meara; Wishart, Rodwell, McGregor, Seru; C.Simon, J.White; Fritz, Callaway, England, Cross (c), Richards, Timmins. Cox, Hepi, Bristow.
O'Meara; Wishart, Rodwell, McGregor, Seru; C.Simon, J.White; Fritz, Callaway, Richards, Mackay, Cross (c), Timmins. D.Walsh, Piccinelli, England, Carige.
Reserve Grade: Illawarra Steelers defeated Auckland Warriors 18-12.
April
O'Meara; Wishart, Rodwell, McGregor, Seru; C.Simon, J.White; Fritz, Callaway, Richards, Mackay, Timmins, Cross (c). Carige, Walsh, Doherty, Hepi.
Reserve Grade: Brisbane defeated Illawarra 24-14
Riolo; Wishart, Timmins, McGregor, Seru; Mackay, Air; Fritz, Hepi, Walsh, Cross (c), Doherty, Rodwell. Richards, England, Cox, J.White.
Souths forward Martin Masella was sent-off after 35 minutes for an illegal use of the elbow. Steelers hooker Brad Hepi was cited for a high tackle, but later exonerated.
Reserve Grade: Illawarra defeated Souths 18-2.
Riolo; Wishart, Timmins, Simon, Seru; Mackay, Air; Fritz, Hepi, Walsh, Doherty, Cross (c), Rodwell. Cox, Richards, O'Meara, J.White.
Gold Coast Chargers winger David Baildon was sent-off after 39 minutes for striking and was later sentenced to six weeks on the sideline. The Steelers, however, could not use the extra man advantage in the second-half to win the game. They were able to peg the score back to 16-all early in the second-half, but were unable go on with it. Two tries to the Chargers assured victory for the home team.
Reserve Grade: Illwarra defeated Gold Coast 20-10.
Riolo; Wishart, Timmins, Simon, Seru; Mackay, Air; Fritz, Hepi, Walsh, Doherty, Cross (c), Rodwell. K.White, Richards, O'Meara, Purcell.
The Steelers coughed up a 20-6 lead at half-time with some sloppy handling and disastrous defence to give away 24 unanswered second-half points to the boys that travelled from across the Tasman.
Reserve Grade: Illawarra defeated Auckland 29-10.
May
June
Reserve Grade: Illawarra defeated Canberra 22-16.
July
Ladder TeamPldWDLPFPAPDPts1 Manly-Warringah22 1804549191+358362 Brisbane211704607263+344343 North Sydney221525598325+273324 Sydney City221516521321+200315 Cronulla-Sutherland211425399268+131306 Canberra211317538384+154277 St. George211218443360+83278 Western Suburbs221219394434−40259 Newcastle2110110416388+282310 Canterbury2111010375378−32211 Auckland2110011412427−152212 Balmain2211011319459−1402213 Parramatta219111404415−112114 Illawarra228014403444−411615 Penrith217113363464−1011516 Western Reds216114313420−1071317 North Queensland216015288643−3551218 Gold Coast225116359521−1621119 South Sydney225116314634−3201120 South Queensland213018220496−2768
Home crowd averages
Round Opposition Venue Crowd Round 1 Western Suburbs Magpies Steelers Stadium, Wollongong 9,744 Round 4 South Sydney Rabbitohs Steelers Stadium, Wollongong 7,083 Round 6 Auckland Warriors Steelers Stadium, Wollongong 8,055 Round 7 South Queensland Crushers Steelers Stadium, Wollongong 4,883 Round 9 St. George Dragons Steelers Stadium, Wollongong 8,529 Round 12 Brisbane Broncos Steelers Stadium, Wollongong 6,121 Round 14 Manly Sea Eagles Steelers Stadium, Wollongong 9,638 Round 15 WA Reds Steelers Stadium, Wollongong 7,115 Round 17 Sydney City Roosters Steelers Stadium, Wollongong 5,247 Round 19 Cronulla Sharks Steelers Stadium, Wollongong 8,017 Round 21 Penrith Panthers Steelers Stadium, Wollongong 7,346 Total 81,778 Average 7,434
References
External links