High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! 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 Final`s by one game, whilst the junior Steelers - the S.G. Ball and Harold Matthew`s sides both won their competitions.