Vic Hey

Five-eighth

Inductee: 35

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

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

35. Vic Hey - Hall of Fame

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	-	-	-	-