Vic Hey
Five-eighth
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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
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.
