Vic Hey

Five-eighth

Inductee: 35

Inducted:: 2008
Birthplace:: Liverpool, NSW

Date of Birth:: 17 November 1912
Nickname:: -

Debut Team:: Western Suburbs
Opposition:: University

Date:: 25 April 1933
Venue:: Pratten Park, Sydney

Representative:: City, New South Wales, Queensland, Australia

Clubs:: Western Suburbs, Toowoomba, Ipswich, Leeds, Dewsbury, Hunslet, Parramatta

Milestones

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

First Class Games: 319
Points: 442
Tries: 144

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

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

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	-	-	-	-