How Canberra Raiders grand final hero Steve Jackson beat alcohol addiction to run for Mayor of Mackay

Former Raiders and Maroons star Steve Jackson has opened up on his battle with alcohol, revealing a moment with his then 12-year-old son was the catalyst to stop drinking.

Raiders hero Steve Jackson has opened up on his battle with alcohol. Picture: Adam Yip

Canberra premiership hero and Queensland prop Steve Jackson has celebrated 10 years of sobriety after admitting he was an “alcoholic.”

And Jackson, preparing for the 25th anniversary of his famous 1989 grand final try, credited becoming a teetotaller for allowing him to confront his greatest challenge – politics.

Jackson and a 10-member ticket – called Jacko’s Team Mackay First – will run at the Mackay Regional Council elections on March 16 next year. He hopes to be thrust straight into the mayoral hot seat over a four-year term.

But a booze-free tilt at politics was unachievable while he was drinking full glasses of Jack Daniels bourbon during, and after, a 78-game first-grade career with Canberra, Western Suburbs and Gold Coast, along with nine State of Origin games for Queensland.

Jackson, 58, said his breaking point came after a night of drinking alongside his then 12-year-old son, Lleyton.

Raiders hero Steve Jackson has opened up on his battle with alcohol. Picture: Adam Yip

“I was definitely an alcoholic,” he said. “I was the alcoholic where one was too many and a thousand wasn’t enough. When I started, I kept going.

“Admitting it is the only way to move forward – your weakness can only become strong once you identify it.

“I had to stay away from everyone for the first 12 months of being sober. My mates would try to get me on the drink and drop bourbons in front of me but that made me even stronger. Now I drink coffee, water and lemon, lime and bitters.

“I have four children. When my son (Lleyton) was 12 years old – he is now 23 – I was teaching him how to pour me a 7pm half-glass of Jack Daniels and a 1am full glass of Jack Daniels. I would sometimes go through until sunlight.

“I remember waking up the next morning thinking what an idiot I was. I said at that very moment I will never drink again. People laughed at me but I haven’t had a drink since the 31st of March, 2013.

“I didn’t want to be that father that says: ‘Do as I say, not what I do’. I wanted to be the father that says: ‘Do as I do’. That moment with Lleyton was a huge turning point in my life. I mightn’t have been here now if I didn’t make that decision. I was loose back then but am a completely different person now.”

Jackson scored a try in the 1989 Grand Final to seal the victory for the Raiders over Balmain

Asked if he would ever drink alcohol again, Jackson said: “Never again. I wouldn’t put one to my mouth.”

Jackson scored a legendary extra-time try in Canberra’s historic 19-14 win over Balmain in the 1989 grand final.

The try pushed Jackson into instant rugby league folklore.

“I’ve never done anything sinister in my life but the culture of rugby league taught us how to drink. We used to celebrate a win and drown our sorrows with a loss. In between those two things we also used to drink,” he said.

“I am entering my 11th year of sobriety and my whole life has turned around. I am a completely different character now and would never be running for Mayor of Mackay if I was still the old ‘Jacko’.

“I was pretty dangerous to be around back then because I used to get up to some antics but now I am a disciplined character.”

Jackson after the grand final 1989 with Winfield Cup trophy.

Jackson wants to enter council on a hardworking platform of transparency and being cost efficient.

Ironically, former Raiders teammates Mal Meninga and Glenn Lazarus have also dabbled in politics.

“Being Mayor of Mackay definitely wasn’t on my radar and I wasn’t too big on the political scene but when I decide to do something, I go in boots-and-all, I don’t hold back,” he said.

“I was a fish-out-of-water when I first started talking to people about it but now I’m enjoying the interaction with people. People want change and we need change.

“The reason I did this is because I’m fed-up with how Governments and local councils spend other people’s money.

“I know how much money Townsville, Cairns and Rockhampton have received from State Government grants and I want to know why Mackay doesn’t get as much. Wouldn’t it be nice for politicians to make money, not just spend it.”

Jackson still owns two chicken shops in Mackay - called Lenards - while also working at Vision Real Estate. He may be forced to downsize his chicken shops if elected as mayor.