Greg Hawick

Superlative backline player in the great Souths’ team of the 1950s, Hawick started his career as lock but played half, five-eighth and centre with Souths, NSW and Australia. After playing in the club’s 1950 grand final win, he missed out on a second premiership when he broke his jaw in the 1951 semi-final against St George. Hawick's utility value earned him a place on the 1952-53 Kangaroo tour, where he made his Test debut against Great Britain as a five-eighth in the First Test. He played in 16 matches on tour, including two Tests, and toured NZ with the Australian team the following year. In 1954 he played in Souths' grand final win over Newtown as well as in the inaugural World Cup competition in France. Hawick left the club to play for Wagga in 1957 and kicked a record 15 goals for NSW in the fourth interstate match that year. After playing in Australia's victorious World Cup squad in 1957, he signed a contract to play with Norths but changed his mind and stayed in Wagga. The NSWRL disqualified him for the season but in the code's first battle in the equity court, it was ruled that the disqualification was a denial of 'natural justice'. Hawick appeared in his final Test series, against Great Britain, while playing in Wagga in 1958 before being lured back to Sydney to play for Norths in 1959-60. His playing career ended when he broke his jaw playing for Wagga in 1963 but Norths were to provide Hawick with a bitter postscript to his coaching career when he was appointed first grade coach by former team-mate Ken McCaffery in 1985. Hawick was forced to resign midway through the season after facing a player revolt, ending his return to Sydney football. His final legacy to the game was introducing a shy, five-eighth by the name of Cliff Lyons to first grade.