Interviews

Steve Janczuk

...was happy to share his feelings about being a member of the 1996 team...

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The 1996 Terrace First XV will be remembered for delivering a great, yet unexpected result for the season.

In winning the 1996 premiership, the team cemented its place in history, but will be remembered for its tenacity and ability to perform under pressure and against more fancied rivals.

Steve Janczuk was a member of the side and was happy to share his feelings about being a member of the 1996 team and the inspirational leadership of Luke Donald, the Captain of the team.

B & G: Steven, what do you think was special about the premiership winning 1996 1st XV side?
Steven: We just had a good bunch of guys and great coaches in Michael Broad and Mark Mc Bain. Plus we had been beaten by just about everyone every year until grade 11 and so we were fired up.

B & G: Yes I’ve heard that the team struggled in the younger grades, were you always in the A’s?
Steven: No I was in the D’s and E’s in grade 8 and 9 but then I made the A’s in grade 10.

B & G: That’s quite a turn around, what happened between grades 9 and 10?
Steven: Well I bulked up a bit and I lost a bit of my asthma.

B & G: What position did you play?
Steven: Tight-head prop.

B & G: I heard that the team’s forward pack wasn’t exactly the biggest in the competition, is that true?
Steven: Yes we probably averaged about 80kg each. I was 80 kg and I was a prop. This was pretty tough when we were coming up against opposing packs that were weighing in at around 100kg each. We got pushed back in just about every scrum.

B & G: Was there a particular member of the forward pack who stood out to you?
Steven: Probably Luke Donald. He was a great bloke and when ever something wasn’t going our way he didn’t get angry at us he just got in there and lead by example.

B & G: Steven, there must have been at least one other team that was challenging you for the premiership that year, what side was that?
Steven: Yes, that was Nudgee.

B & G: Do you remember anything special about the game against them?
Steven: Well we were down 10-0 after about ten minutes and I remember running back after Nudgee had scored and seeing Broady and McBain with there heads down, so I was a bit worried. We managed to pull through and we won 21-15.

B & G: Did you go on to play rugby when you left Terrace?
Steven: Yes I played for Uni until 2001. I played colts 1, 2, 3 and 4 and then I played 1st and 2nd grade.

B & G: What are you doing at the moment, career wise?
Steven: At the moment I’m working for Deloittes, an accounting firm.


Steve Janczuk completed senior at Terrace in 1996. Steve initially studied Science and played rugby for the University club from 1997 until 2002.
He was selected in the Queensland Under 19 Rugby Team in 1998.
Steve subsequently completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree.
He has worked for the last two years with Deloittes in Brisbane.