Michael Hancock (rugby league)

Michael Hancock

Personal information
Full name	Michael John Hancock
Nickname	Hank, Grub, The Angry Ant, Mr. Angry
Born	October 21, 1969 (1969-10-21) (age 42) Stanthorpe, Queensland, Australia
Playing information
Height	183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	94 kg (14 st 11 lb)
Position	Wing
Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
1988–00	Brisbane Broncos	274	120	2	0	484
2001–02	Salford City Reds	36	7	0	0	28
	Total	310	127	2	0	512
Representative
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
1989–96	Queensland	14	5	0	0	20
1989–94	Australia	13	5	0	0	20
1997	Queensland (SL)	2	1	0	0	4
Source: NRL Stats, RLP, SL Stats and Yesterday's Hero

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.

1980s

A young winger from Stanthorpe, Queensland, 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^[1] 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.

1990s

In 1990 Hancock missed the one-off Test against France 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.

2000s

The advent of the unlimited interchange rule prolonged Hancock’s career, with coach Wayne Bennett 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.^[2]

References

1. ^ Gallaway, Jack (2003). Origin: Rugby League's greatest contest 1980-2002. Univ. of Queensland Press. pp. 130. ISBN 0702233838, 9780702233838. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=3nDbsx3Hk7QC&printsec=frontcover. 
2. ^ Dekroo, Karl (2007-05-09). "Still the king". The Courier-Mail (Australia: Queensland Newspapers). http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,21701434-10389,00.html. Retrieved 2009-12-08. ^{[dead link]}

External links

• Michael Hancock at the Brisbane Broncos official website. (This link no longer works, please see the template page to change.)
• Michael Hancock at the State of Origin official website.
• Michael Hancock stats at rugbyleagueproject.com
• Michael Hancock at yesterdayshero.com.au
• Michael Hancock at nrlstats.com
• Queensland representatives at qrl.com.au

Persondata
Name	Hancock, Michael
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1969-10-21
Place of birth	Stanthorpe, Queensland
Date of death
Place of death