He’s known for scoring one of the most famous grand final tries in rugby league history and after almost three decades of owning Lenard’s franchise's post-footy career, Steve Jackson has announced his candidacy for Mayor of Mackay.
Jackson was born in Mackay in 1965, growing up in a sporty family where weekends were spent playing rugby league, soccer, basketball and Australian rules, before he made the decision to pursue rugby league at the age of 14.
Playing representative football throughout his junior years, he made his first-grade debut for Magpies in 1985 before getting the opportunity to sign with the Canberra Raiders in 1986.
Playing a series of reserve grade games under Wayne Bennett led him to achieving his lifelong dream of playing in a grand final.
“I used to watch grand finals since I was five years old in Mackay … here I was playing in the top league in the country in a grand final, so I wanted to give it everything I had,” he said.
Coming off the bench in the 1989 decider against the Balmain Tigers, Jackson scored a match-sealing try that has become a part of rugby league history.
With a 15-14 lead with mere minutes to go, Mal Meninga collected a desperate Balmain grubber and promoted the ball to Jackson who barged his way off defender after defender.
“All I can remember thinking was, ‘I can score a try in a grand final here,’ and I reached out, popped the ball down with my left hand, looked up and saw a young Bill Harrigan pointing his arm and blowing the whistle,” he recollected.
“I remember putting my head down, it was right on the try line, and I remember saying, ‘I made it, I made it, I made it.’
“It was a dream come true.”
Jackson’s career took him to Western Suburbs Magpies, Gold Coast Seagulls and State of Origin before injury forced him to retire in 1994.
He returned to Mackay in 1995, taking on a coaching position at Magpies, but faced a dilemma often experienced by footy players at the end of their careers.
“When I retired, I not only lost the game, I lost my wife, I lost my job, so I went from the penthouse to the outhouse in 12 months and it was a dark place for me,” he said.
“The resilience I learnt in rugby league got me through.”
At 32, Jackson remarried before opening Lenard’s Mount Pleasant in 1997 and purchasing Lenard’s Caneland Central in 2018.
“The business then saved me because there was a light at the end of the tunnel,” he said.
“What I’ve put in place from football is the same principles and discipline in my business.”
After 27 years in business, both poultry and real estate, Jackson welcomes his next challenge: running for Mayor of Mackay.
“Greg Williamson’s doing a fantastic job, but sometimes change might be needed and I believe Mackay is a sleeping giant,” he said.
Going from challenge to challenge and strength to strength, Jackson’s advice from someone who’s experienced it all is to always have a dream.
“If I’d have told people when I was 15 years old listening to State of Origin on the radio that I was going to play nine games for Queensland and play in a grand final they would’ve laughed at me,” he said.
“But look what happened.”
Rugby League Legend, Lenard’s Franchisee and Mayoral Candidate Steve Jackson. Photo credit: Sam Gillespie
Publishers Indemnity. Any individual or entity that places advertising, supplies copy material, or submits editorial content to Core Life Publishing agrees and undertakes to ensure that all such material:- Does not infringe upon any copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property rights;- Is free from any content that could be considered defamatory, libelous, or slanderous;- Does not infringe upon any rights related to privacy or breach of confidence;- Contains no obscene, indecent, or otherwise unlawful material;- Complies fully with the Trade Practices Act and all other applicable laws, regulations, or statutes.Furthermore, by submitting or placing such material, these individuals or entities agree to indemnify and hold harmless the publisher, Core Publishing and Events Pty Ltd, and/or its agents from and against any and all investigations, claims, demands, liabilities, damages, costs, or judgments arising out of or in connection with the material provided. All material is believed to be accurate at the time of printing and remains the copyright of Core Publishing and Events Pty Ltd.
© 2024 Mackay and Whitsunday Life Pty Ltd.
