Ahead of the anniversary of the 1991 Premiership Final between Hull FC and Widnes next week, Australian star half-back Greg Mackey is our Black & White Rugby League Icon this week.
Greg Mackey had played for South Sydney, Illawarra Steelers and Canterbury Bankstown in the Australian Rugby League before testing the waters in England by joining Warrington, as well as French club Paris Chantillion.
His stay in Cheshire was short-lived as Hull FC secured his signature in 1989. He enjoyed a three-year spell at The Boulevard and proved to be an inspirational leader in the halves, making 95 appearances.
His debut came away to Wakefield Trinity at Belle Vue, and despite losing the fixture, Mackey pushed on to a successful tenure with the Airlie Birds.
He led Hull to Premiership Trophy glory at Old Trafford in May 1991, becoming the first, and only, Hull player to win the Harry Sunderland Trophy as Man of the Match.
Mackey was instrumental in the winning score against Leeds in the semi-final, when his high kick under the posts had resulted in a try for Gary Nolan.
He showed the same qualities at The Boulevard as he had at Wilderspool, as a vocal onfield organiser, carrying out the game-plan of the Hull coach, Brian Smith, and as a resilient defender.
Just short of 100 appearances, in which time scoring 18 tries, Mackey’s time in East Yorkshire came to a seemingly premature end.
But eventually, his desire to return to Warrington saw him exit the Boulevard. His career came to an end at Huddersfield Giants towards the close of the 20th century
In 2014, the Black & Whites joined Mackey’s family and friends in the mourning of his death after a brave battle with cancer.
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