Vic Hey
Encyclopedia
Vic Hey born Liverpool
, New South Wales
, was an Australian rugby league
national and state representative five-eighth and later a successful first-grade and national coach. His Australian club playing career commenced with the Western Suburbs Magpies
and concluded with the Parramatta Eels
. In between he played for a number of clubs in the English first division. He is considered one of Australia's finest footballers of the 20th century
in 1933. In a spectacular rookie season he cemented a first grade club spot and made both his state and national representative debuts. In his second NSWRL season 1934, Hey was a member of Wests' premiership winning side. In September 2004 Hey was named at five-eighth in the Western Suburbs Magpies team of the century.
, making his debut against Hunslet on 21 August 1937. He was paid a then record signing fee of £1,400 (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £261,000 in 2009). He appeared in the Championship final in 1938 when Leeds went down to Hunslet. Later success followed when he helped Leeds to successive Challenge Cup wins in 1941 and 1942.
from 1944–47, before playing nine times for Hunslet
after his ship back to Australia was delayed.
following his retirement, Hey wrote rugby league's first memoir: A Man's Game which was released in 1950.
. He made a total of 11 appearances for New South Wales between 1933 and 1935, scoring nine tries.
in all three matches of that year's interstate representative series.
replacing Ernie Norman
who had failed a fitness test. On that tour he played in 23 tour matches and in all three Test matches of the Ashes
series against England, partnering his Western Suburbs teammate Les Mead in the halves. On the tour he scored fourteen tries. In 1936, from Queensland he was again selected for all three Test matches of the domestic Ashes
series against England.
in 1955 and 1956 and later Western Suburbs
in 1958 and 1959. He was appointed coach of the Australia national rugby league teamin 1950 and coached his country to their first Ashes victory in thirty years. The following year the French national side defeated Australia in a three Test domestic series. Hey also coached Australia in the 1954 World Cup
as well as the Ashes series which Australia again won. The following year his side lost again to the French and afterwards he decided to resign as the coach of Australia.
in 2004. Also in 2004 he was named at five-eighth for the Western Suburbs Magpies
team of the century.
In February 2008, Hey was named in the list of Australia's 100 Greatest Players (1908–2007) which was commissioned by the NRL
and ARL
to
celebrate the code's centenary year in Australia.
Liverpool, New South Wales
Liverpool is a suburb in south-western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Liverpool is located 32 km south-west of the Sydney central business district, and is the administrative centre of the local government area of the City of Liverpool...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, was an Australian rugby league
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...
national and state representative five-eighth and later a successful first-grade and national coach. His Australian club playing career commenced with the Western Suburbs Magpies
Western Suburbs Magpies
The Western Suburbs Magpies are an Australian rugby league football club based in the western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales. Formed in 1908, Wests, as they are commonly referred to, were one of the nine foundation clubs of the first New South Wales Rugby League competition in Australia...
and concluded with the Parramatta Eels
Parramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
. In between he played for a number of clubs in the English first division. He is considered one of Australia's finest footballers of the 20th century
Western Suburbs
After starring as a schoolboy and playing his junior football with Guildford in western Sydney, Vic Hey was graded with the Western Suburbs MagpiesWestern Suburbs Magpies
The Western Suburbs Magpies are an Australian rugby league football club based in the western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales. Formed in 1908, Wests, as they are commonly referred to, were one of the nine foundation clubs of the first New South Wales Rugby League competition in Australia...
in 1933. In a spectacular rookie season he cemented a first grade club spot and made both his state and national representative debuts. In his second NSWRL season 1934, Hey was a member of Wests' premiership winning side. In September 2004 Hey was named at five-eighth in the Western Suburbs Magpies team of the century.
Toowoomba
Moving to Queensland in 1936, Vic Hey briefly played a season for Toowoomba before moving to the UK.Leeds
At the end of the Australian 1936 season Hey left for Britain to play club football for LeedsLeeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
, making his debut against Hunslet on 21 August 1937. He was paid a then record signing fee of £1,400 (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £261,000 in 2009). He appeared in the Championship final in 1938 when Leeds went down to Hunslet. Later success followed when he helped Leeds to successive Challenge Cup wins in 1941 and 1942.
Dewsbury & Hunslet
Hey was player/coach at DewsburyDewsbury Rams
Dewsbury Rams RLFC is a professional rugby league club based in the West Yorkshire town of Dewsbury. They are arguably most famous for becoming Champions in 1972-73 after finishing the regular season in 8th place. In the playoffs they beat Featherstone away, Warrington away, and then Leeds in the...
from 1944–47, before playing nine times for Hunslet
Hunslet Hawks
Hunslet Hawks is a professional rugby league club based in Hunslet, West Yorkshire, England. The club, sometimes known as 'the Parksiders' after their former stadium, are currently champions of Championship One.-History:-Early years:...
after his ship back to Australia was delayed.
Parramatta
Vic Hey signed for Parramatta in 1948 in that club's second season in the top grade. He was appointed as the club's captain-coach. He played two seasons 1948 and 1949 before retiring from first grade rugby league at age 37.following his retirement, Hey wrote rugby league's first memoir: A Man's Game which was released in 1950.
Representative career
New South Wales
After just 6 first grade appearances with Western Suburbs in 1933, Hey was called up to represent New South WalesNew 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 made a total of 11 appearances for New South Wales between 1933 and 1935, scoring nine tries.
Queensland
While living in Toowoomba and playing for Ipswich in 1936 Hey represented QueenslandQueensland rugby league team
The Queensland rugby league team have represented the Australian state of Queensland in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1908...
in all three matches of that year's interstate representative series.
Australia
In his debut 1933-34 season, Hey was a late selection for the Kangaroo tourKangaroo Tour
Kangaroo Tour is the name given to Australian national rugby league team tours of Great Britain and France. The first Kangaroo Tour was in 1908. Traditionally, Kangaroo Tours took place every four years and involved a three-Test Ashes series against Great Britain and a number of tour matches...
replacing Ernie Norman
Ernie Norman
Ernie Norman was an Australian rugby league player - a state and national representative Centre or Five-eighth. His club career was with the Eastern Suburbs club in the New South Wales Rugby League competition....
who had failed a fitness test. On that tour he played in 23 tour matches and in all three Test matches of the Ashes
Rugby League Ashes
The Ashes is the name given to the trophy awarded to the winner of a best-of-three series of rugby league football test series between Great Britain and Australia...
series against England, partnering his Western Suburbs teammate Les Mead in the halves. On the tour he scored fourteen tries. In 1936, from Queensland he was again selected for all three Test matches of the domestic Ashes
Rugby League Ashes
The Ashes is the name given to the trophy awarded to the winner of a best-of-three series of rugby league football test series between Great Britain and Australia...
series against England.
Coaching career
Vic Hey coached Parramatta between 1948 and 1953. He went on to coach CanterburyCanterbury Bulldogs
The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Belmore, a suburb in the Canterbury-Bankstown region of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, as well as New South Wales Rugby League junior competitions...
in 1955 and 1956 and later Western Suburbs
Western Suburbs Magpies
The Western Suburbs Magpies are an Australian rugby league football club based in the western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales. Formed in 1908, Wests, as they are commonly referred to, were one of the nine foundation clubs of the first New South Wales Rugby League competition in Australia...
in 1958 and 1959. He was appointed coach of the Australia national rugby league teamin 1950 and coached his country to their first Ashes victory in thirty years. The following year the French national side defeated Australia in a three Test domestic series. Hey also coached Australia in the 1954 World Cup
1954 Rugby League World Cup
The first Rugby League World Cup was held in France in 1954 and officially known as the "Rugby World Cup". The prime motivators behind the idea of holding a rugby league world cup were the French, who were short of money following the seizing of their assets by the rugby union in World War II.The...
as well as the Ashes series which Australia again won. The following year his side lost again to the French and afterwards he decided to resign as the coach of Australia.
Accolades
For his achievements in rugby league, Vic Hey was inducted into the Australian Rugby League Hall of FameAustralian Rugby League Hall of Fame
The Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame honors players who have shown exceptional skill at rugby league, all-time great coaches and referees, and other major contributors to the game who are Australian...
in 2004. Also in 2004 he was named at five-eighth for the Western Suburbs Magpies
Western Suburbs Magpies
The Western Suburbs Magpies are an Australian rugby league football club based in the western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales. Formed in 1908, Wests, as they are commonly referred to, were one of the nine foundation clubs of the first New South Wales Rugby League competition in Australia...
team of the century.
In February 2008, Hey was named in the list of Australia's 100 Greatest Players (1908–2007) which was commissioned by the NRL
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
and ARL
Australian Rugby League
The Australian Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in Australia. It is made up of state bodies, including the New South Wales Rugby League and the Queensland Rugby League...
to
celebrate the code's centenary year in Australia.