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Michael Hancock (rugby league)
Encyclopedia
Michael John "Mick" Hancock (born on the 21st of October, 1969 in Stanthorpe, Queensland
) is an Australian former rugby league
footballer of the 1980s, 90s and 2000s. An Australian international and Queensland State of Origin
representative winger, he played in the Brisbane Broncos
' 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th grand final victories. At the time of his retirement from football in Australia in 2000 he held the Broncos' club records for most career tries as a winger and most games of any player. He played out the rest of his career in England with Salford City Reds
.
, Hancock starred as a 17-year-old for Toowoomba in the Winfield State League. He then joined the Brisbane Broncos
for the club’s initial season in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership
as a member of the first Brisbane run-on team that thrashed defending premiers Manly in 1988
's season opener.
In 1989 Hancock made his debut for the Queensland Maroons, becoming the youngest footballer of either state to play state of Origin and scored two tries. He then made his Test debut on the 1989 tour of New Zealand
while still a teenager. Having represented his state that year, proving himself a top-class winger with pace, strength and elusiveness, he played in all matches on the New Zealand tour, including three Tests. He was known for a wide-legged running style that allowed him to change direction sharply and sometimes several times as he approached opposition defences.
with a hamstring injury but was chosen in the Test against New Zealand
before going on the 1990 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France
at the end of the 1990 NSWRL season. Unfortunately, an ankle injury suffered in Australia’s First Test loss ruled him out of the remainder of the tour.
In 1991 he was unable to join the Test teams against New Zealand nor gain a spot on the tour of Papua New Guinea
. He later regained his Test spot against Great Britain
that year and during the 1992 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand helped Australia retain The Ashes. At the end of the year Hancock was a member of the Broncos’ grand final team that defeated the St George Dragons in 1992 and travelling to England, he played in Australia's World Cup
final win and scored two tries in Brisbane's 1992 World Club Challenge
victory over Wigan
.
Hancock made his first Kangaroo tour
of New Zealand in 1993. He played in Brisbane's second consecutive premiership win in 1993. During the 1994 NSWRL season, Hancock played at centre for defending premiers Brisbane when they hosted British champions Wigan
for the 1994 World Club Challenge
. His Test career was put on hold when he injured his shoulder in a training mishap on the 1994 Kangaroo Tour
. Along with Steve Renouf
, he was the Broncos' top try-scorer in 1995
.
Hancock was cut by the Broncos at the beginning of the 1996 season but asked to be allowed to train with the team in the off-season and regained his contract. His try in Brisbane’s 26-8 Super League
grand final win over the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks took him past the century mark and although his representative career ended, he savoured another title in 1998, playing from the bench in the Broncos' victory at the 1998 NRL grand final
.
opting to use him as an impact player on the wing or in the second row. The last of the foundation players to leave the club, it was only fitting then, in his fourteenth season with the same club, that he left the Broncos after the 14-6 win against the Sydney Roosters
in the 2000 grand final to play out the rest of his career for Salford
in England. Also in 2000 Hancock was awarded the Australian Sports Medal
for his contribution to Australia's international standing in the sport of rugby league. At the time of his retirement, he held the record for most appearances for the Broncos and was number two on the club's all time top try-scorers list with 120 (second only to Steve Renouf
).
During the 2007 season at the Broncos' 20-year anniversary celebration, the club announced a list of the 20 best players to play for them to date which included Hancock.
Stanthorpe, Queensland
Stanthorpe is a town situated in south east Queensland, Australia. The town lies on the New England Highway near the New South Wales border 223 km from Brisbane via Warwick, 56 km north of Tenterfield and 811 m above sea level. The area surrounding the town is known as the Granite Belt...
) is an Australian former 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...
footballer of the 1980s, 90s and 2000s. An Australian international and Queensland State of Origin
Rugby League State of Origin
State of Origin is an annual best of three series of rugby league football matches contested by the Maroons and the Blues, who represent the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales respectively...
representative winger, he played in the Brisbane Broncos
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
' 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th grand final victories. At the time of his retirement from football in Australia in 2000 he held the Broncos' club records for most career tries as a winger and most games of any player. He played out the rest of his career in England with Salford City Reds
Salford City Reds
Salford City Reds are an English rugby league club based in Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1873, they currently play in the Super League. They have won six Rugby Football League Championships and one Challenge Cup...
.
1980s
A young winger from Stanthorpe, QueenslandStanthorpe, Queensland
Stanthorpe is a town situated in south east Queensland, Australia. The town lies on the New England Highway near the New South Wales border 223 km from Brisbane via Warwick, 56 km north of Tenterfield and 811 m above sea level. The area surrounding the town is known as the Granite Belt...
, Hancock starred as a 17-year-old for Toowoomba in the Winfield State League. He then joined the Brisbane Broncos
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
for the club’s initial season in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership
New South Wales Rugby League premiership
The New South Wales Rugby League premiership was the first rugby league football club competition established in Australia. Run by the New South Wales Rugby League from 1908 until 1994, the premiership was the state's and later the country's elite rugby league competition...
as a member of the first Brisbane run-on team that thrashed defending premiers Manly in 1988
Brisbane Broncos 1988
The 1988 Brisbane Broncos season was the first in the club's history. The new venture team, competed in the New South Wales Rugby League's 1988 Winfield Cup premiership and, despite a strong start to the season, failed to make the finals...
's season opener.
In 1989 Hancock made his debut for the Queensland Maroons, becoming the youngest footballer of either state to play state of Origin and scored two tries. He then made his Test debut on the 1989 tour of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
while still a teenager. Having represented his state that year, proving himself a top-class winger with pace, strength and elusiveness, he played in all matches on the New Zealand tour, including three Tests. He was known for a wide-legged running style that allowed him to change direction sharply and sometimes several times as he approached opposition defences.
1990s
In 1990 Hancock missed the one-off Test against FranceFrance national rugby league team
The France national rugby league team represent France in international rugby league tournaments. They are also sometimes referred to as "Les Tricolores" or more commonly "Les Chanticleers"...
with a hamstring injury but was chosen in the Test against 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 going on the 1990 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France
1990 Kangaroo Tour of Great Britain and France
The 1990 Kangaroo Tour was the seventeenth Kangaroo Tour, where the Australian national rugby league team travelled to Europe and played eighteen matches against British and French rugby league teams, in addition to three Test matches...
at the end of the 1990 NSWRL season. Unfortunately, an ankle injury suffered in Australia’s First Test loss ruled him out of the remainder of the tour.
In 1991 he was unable to join the Test teams against New Zealand nor gain a spot on the tour of Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
. He later regained his Test spot against Great Britain
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"....
that year and during the 1992 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand helped Australia retain The Ashes. At the end of the year Hancock was a member of the Broncos’ grand final team that defeated the St George Dragons in 1992 and travelling to England, he played in Australia's World Cup
Rugby League World Cup
The Rugby League World Cup is an international rugby league competition contested by members of the Rugby League International Federation . It has been held nearly once every 4 years on average since its inaugural tournament in France in 1954...
final win and scored two tries in Brisbane's 1992 World Club Challenge
1992 World Club Challenge
The 1992 World Club Challenge match was contested by the 1991–92 Rugby Football League season champions Wigan and the 1992 NSWRL season's premiers, the Brisbane Broncos...
victory over Wigan
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
.
Hancock made his first Kangaroo tour
Kangaroo 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...
of New Zealand in 1993. He played in Brisbane's second consecutive premiership win in 1993. During the 1994 NSWRL season, Hancock played at centre for defending premiers Brisbane when they hosted British champions Wigan
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
for the 1994 World Club Challenge
1994 World Club Challenge
The 1994 MMI World Club Challenge was a replay of the 1992 World Club Challenge, with 1993–94 Rugby Football League season champions Wigan facing the 1993 NSWRL season premiers, the Brisbane Broncos, this time in Australia. Wigan were clearly the dominant club in the English game, having won the...
. His Test career was put on hold when he injured his shoulder in a training mishap on the 1994 Kangaroo Tour
1994 Kangaroo Tour
The 1994 Kangaroo Tour was the last played in the conventional format, where the Australian side plays a number of matches against British and French clubs or provincial outfits, in additions to the Test matches...
. Along with Steve Renouf
Steve Renouf
Stephen Renouf is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s, 90s and 2000s. Of Aboriginal and European descent, he was known as one of the sport's greatest centres. Renouf set numerous records for the Brisbane Broncos club and is considered one of the greatest...
, he was the Broncos' top try-scorer in 1995
Brisbane Broncos 1995
The 1995 Brisbane Broncos season was the eighth in the club's history. They competed in the Australian Rugby League's 1995 Winfield Cup premiership, finishing in the regular season 3rd and making it to the semi-finals before being knocked out by eventual premiers, the Canterbury-Bankstown...
.
Hancock was cut by the Broncos at the beginning of the 1996 season but asked to be allowed to train with the team in the off-season and regained his contract. His try in Brisbane’s 26-8 Super League
Super League (Australia)
Super League was an Australian rugby league football administrative body that conducted professional competition in Australasia for one season in 1997. Along with Super League of Europe, it was created by News Corporation during the Super League war which arose following an unsuccessful attempt to...
grand final win over the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks took him past the century mark and although his representative career ended, he savoured another title in 1998, playing from the bench in the Broncos' victory at the 1998 NRL grand final
1998 NRL grand final
The 1998 NRL grand final was the conclusive and premiership-deciding game of the 1998 NRL season. It was the first grand final since the National Rugby League's formation and featured minor premiers and the previous year's Super League premiers, the Brisbane Broncos against the Canterbury Bulldogs,...
.
2000s
The advent of the unlimited interchange rule prolonged Hancock’s career, with coach Wayne BennettWayne Bennett (rugby league coach)
Wayne James Bennett AM is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player. He is the current head coach for the Newcastle Knights of the NRL...
opting to use him as an impact player on the wing or in the second row. The last of the foundation players to leave the club, it was only fitting then, in his fourteenth season with the same club, that he left the Broncos after the 14-6 win against the Sydney Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
in the 2000 grand final to play out the rest of his career for Salford
Salford City Reds
Salford City Reds are an English rugby league club based in Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1873, they currently play in the Super League. They have won six Rugby Football League Championships and one Challenge Cup...
in England. Also in 2000 Hancock was awarded the Australian Sports Medal
Australian Sports Medal
The Australian Sports Medal was an award given during 2000 to recognise achievements in Australian sport.Recipients of the award included competitors, coaches, sports scientists, office holders, and people who maintained sporting facilities and services. Over 18,000 Medals were...
for his contribution to Australia's international standing in the sport of rugby league. At the time of his retirement, he held the record for most appearances for the Broncos and was number two on the club's all time top try-scorers list with 120 (second only to Steve Renouf
Steve Renouf
Stephen Renouf is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s, 90s and 2000s. Of Aboriginal and European descent, he was known as one of the sport's greatest centres. Renouf set numerous records for the Brisbane Broncos club and is considered one of the greatest...
).
During the 2007 season at the Broncos' 20-year anniversary celebration, the club announced a list of the 20 best players to play for them to date which included Hancock.