Opacic originally auditioned for the role of Sean Rossi, before he was cast as Steve for an initial six-episode stint, and was introduced as a former university friend of Rachel Hughes (Glenda McKay).

Series producer Kieran Roberts decided to write the character out in 1998, and Opacic made his final appearance on 20 January 1999.

[2] The Daily Mirror's Sarah Hey reported that Opacic's character was an "entrepreneur" and a former friend of established regular Rachel Hughes (Glenda McKay).

"[2] Opacic explained that Steve moves to the village because he has become fed up with city life, but it is no coincidence that he comes to Emmerdale where Rachel is living.

Opacic believed his character was "disappointed" when he learned that Rachel was married, but this showed off his determined side as he pursued her, hoping she would feel the same way.

[3] In September 1998, Matthew Wright of the Daily Mirror reported Opacic and two other cast members had been written out by new series producer Kieran Roberts.

They become engaged, but Steve is hesitant to marry when Kim proceeds to establish a business partnership with Lord Alex Oakwell (Rupam Maxwell).

On the night of Kim and Steve's engagement party, Alex ends up causing the death of Zoe's best-friend Linda Fowler (Tonicha Jeronimo).

The follow-up to Linda's death sparks a feud between her husband Biff Fowler (Stuart Wade) and father Ned Glover (Johnny Leeze), as well as Alex's trophy-wife Tara Cockburn (Anna Brecon).

James is soon rescued and the police arrest his kidnapper, who turns out to be Linda's grieving mother Jan Glover (Roberta Kerr).

Kim later urges her husband to leave the country until the investigation into both the horse theft and its contribution to Kathy's hit and run incident blows over.

Kim fabricates a story where she has ended their marriage because of the murder attempt on Kathy and her wariness of his behaviour in reaction to their impending divorce.

She wasn't quite as loaded as he'd hoped..."[7] In 2015, Lewis Panther from the Daily Mirror called the character a "womaniser" and noted that Opaic had a successful stint on Emmerdale.