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HallOfFame

Vic Hey

Five-eighth

Inductee
35

Player Bio

Inducted:
2008
Date of Birth:
17 November 1912
Birthplace:
Liverpool, NSW
Nickname:
-
Debut Team:
Western Suburbs
Date:
25 April 1933
Opposition:
University
Venue:
Pratten Park, Sydney
Representative:
City, New South Wales, Queensland, Australia
Clubs:
Western Suburbs, Toowoomba, Ipswich, Leeds, Dewsbury, Hunslet, Parramatta

Career

Milestones

  • Premiership: 1934
  • Kangaroo Tour 1933-34
  • Challenge Cups: 1941, 1942
  • Rated No. 8 in Rugby League Week’s Top 100 players: 1992

Playing

First Class Games
319
Points
442
Tries
144

Biography

In the mid-1980s, veteran league journalists Tom Goodman and George Crawford declared Vic Hey to be Australia's greatest ever five-eighth. Playing at 86kg, Hey was both a mighty defender and a devastating attacking player. He could employ a sidestep or a swerve to evade the defence or, if necessary, use a crashing shoulder or hip to burst straight through it.

Born in Liverpool (NSW) in 1912, Hey played his first football on the SCG as a schoolboy in 1927.

He was graded with Wests in 1932 and a year later, in his initial season in first grade, was a late inclusion in the fourth Kangaroo squad, following an injury to Ernie Norman.

Just 21, Hey was a sensation on tour, playing in 26 of the 37 matches, including all three Tests.

Hey helped Wests to a premiership victory and then accepted an offer to join Toowoomba.

He played in the three Tests against England in 1936 and then, after half a season at Ipswich in 1937, accepted an offer of £1250 to join Leeds.

He stayed there for eight seasons, played also for Dewsbury and Hunslet, and earned a reputation as the most devastating five-eighth ever seen in England. He returned to Australia in 1948, joining the fledgling Parramatta club as captain-coach.

Hey coached Australia to Ashes victory over Great Britain in 1950 and 1954, and had later coaching stints at Canterbury and Wests.

“As a five-eighth Vic Hey is the greatest of them all. The man who can master Hey at all-round Rugby science is yet to be found.”

H.Davis English critic

35. Vic Hey - Hall of Fame

Career Stats

Club Career

Club
Team Name Competition Year Start Year End Played Tries Goals Field Goals Points
Western Suburbs Premiership 1933 1935 27 18 1 - 56
Newtown Toowoomba Toowoomba Club Competition 1935 1936 - - - - -
Tivolis Ipswich Ipswich Club Competition 1937 1937 - - - - -
Leeds England First Class Games 1937 1944 145 73 2 - 223
Dewsbury England First Class Games 1944 1947 69 16 2 - 52
Hunslet England First Class Games 1947 1947 9 4 - - 12
Parramatta Premiership 1948 1949 10 3 - - 9

Representative Career

City - Country

City - Country
Team Name Opponent Year Start Year End Played Tries Goals Field Goals Points
City Firsts Country Firsts 1933 1935 3 1 - - 3
City Country 1934 1934 1 - - - -

Intercity

Intercity
Team Name Competition Opponent Year Start Year End Played Tries Goals Field Goals Points
Toowoomba 1935 1936 7 3 - - 9
Ipswich 1937 1937 2 - - - -

State

State
Team Name Competition Opponent Year Start Year End Played Tries Goals Field Goals Points
New South Wales Interstate Series Queensland 1933 1935 11 9 - - 27
New South Wales Tour Matches 1935 1935 2 1 - - 3
Queensland Interstate Series New South Wales 1936 1936 3 - - - -
Queensland Touring Teams 1936 1936 1 - - - -

International

International
Team Name Competition Year Start Year End Played Tries Goals Field Goals Points
Australia Tests
1933
1936
1933
1936 		6 2 - - 6
Australia Tour Matches 1933 1934 23 14 - - 42

Other Representative

Other Representative
Team Name Opponent Year Start Year End Played Tries Goals Field Goals Points
Kangaroos The Rest 1934 1934 1 - - - -
British Empire 1937 1937 1 1 - - 3

Hall of Fame Members

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Acknowledgement of Country

National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on. 

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