Les Hanigan
Encyclopedia
Les Hanigan is an Australian former professional rugby league
footballer of the 1960s and 70s. An Australian international and New South Wales
representative wing three-quarter back, he played club football in Illawarra
for Collegians
, in Sydney for Manly-Warringah
and in North Queensland
for Proserpine
.
A pro runner from Wollongong, Hanigan was selected to represent Southern New South Wales against the touring Great Britain team
in 1966, scoring a try. He signed on to play in Sydney's NSWRFL competition with the Manly-Warringah club
in 1967. That year he set a new club record for most tries
in a match when he scored five tries in a match against competition newcomers, Cronulla-Sutherland. By the end of the 1967 NSWRFL season he had scored sixteen tries, the most in the competition. After playing for New South Wales
, he scored two tries in Australia's First Test win over New Zealand
before touring with the 1967-68 Kangaroos. Hanigan played in 11 games on tour but no Tests.
With Manly-Warringah he reached the 1968 NSWRFL season's grand final
and played on the wing in the loss to Souths
.
After his time with Manly, Hanigan moved north to captain-coach Queensland's Proserpine club. From here he was selected to represent North Queensland.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer of the 1960s and 70s. An Australian international and New South Wales
New South Wales rugby league team
The New South Wales rugby league team has represented the Australian state of New South Wales in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1907. Administered by the New South Wales Rugby League, the team competes in the annual State of Origin series against arch-rivals, the...
representative wing three-quarter back, he played club football in Illawarra
Illawarra
Illawarra is a region in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is a coastal region situated immediately south of Sydney and north of the Shoalhaven or South Coast region. It encompasses the cities of Wollongong, Shellharbour, Shoalhaven and the town of Kiama. The central region contains Lake...
for Collegians
Collegians
Collegians are an Australian rugby league football team based in Wollongong. The club are a part of Country Rugby League and compete in the Illawarra Rugby League premiership. The club plays out of University Oval, Wollongong. Collegians wear red and black jerseys and have won 8 minor premierships...
, in Sydney for Manly-Warringah
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are an Australian professional rugby league club based on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League's Telstra Premiership, the premier rugby league competition of Australasia...
and in North Queensland
North Queensland
North Queensland or the Northern Region is the northern part of the state of Queensland in Australia. Queensland is a massive state, larger than most countries, and the tropical northern part of it has been historically remote and undeveloped, resulting in a distinctive regional character and...
for Proserpine
Proserpine, Queensland
-External links:* * * * *...
.
A pro runner from Wollongong, Hanigan was selected to represent Southern New South Wales against the touring Great Britain team
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
in 1966, scoring a try. He signed on to play in Sydney's NSWRFL competition with the Manly-Warringah club
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are an Australian professional rugby league club based on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League's Telstra Premiership, the premier rugby league competition of Australasia...
in 1967. That year he set a new club record for most tries
Try
A try is the major way of scoring points in rugby league and rugby union football. A try is scored by grounding the ball in the opposition's in-goal area...
in a match when he scored five tries in a match against competition newcomers, Cronulla-Sutherland. By the end of the 1967 NSWRFL season he had scored sixteen tries, the most in the competition. After playing for New South Wales
New South Wales rugby league team
The New South Wales rugby league team has represented the Australian state of New South Wales in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1907. Administered by the New South Wales Rugby League, the team competes in the annual State of Origin series against arch-rivals, the...
, he scored two tries in Australia's First Test win over New Zealand
New Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
before touring with the 1967-68 Kangaroos. Hanigan played in 11 games on tour but no Tests.
With Manly-Warringah he reached the 1968 NSWRFL season's grand final
Grand Final
Grand Final is a predominantly Australian sport term used to describe a match that decides a league champion.It originated in Victoria and South Australia and has become specifically significant Australian culture...
and played on the wing in the loss to Souths
South Sydney Rabbitohs
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
.
After his time with Manly, Hanigan moved north to captain-coach Queensland's Proserpine club. From here he was selected to represent North Queensland.