Michael Hagan

Brisbane junior, the younger brother of 1962 Test centre Bob Hagan, shifted to Bankstown as a teenager and was graded with C’bury in 1983. A season with English Club Halifax in 1984-85 honed Hagan's skills as a busy organiser around the rucks. Hagan shadowed Steve Mortimer and Terry Lamb, the Bulldogs' star scrumbase partnership, but often filled in at fullback or lock. When Lamb was injured on the eve of the 1985 grand final, Hagan ably took over the five-eighth role. 1988 was his last season for the club, culminating in the grand final win over Balmain, with Hagan already deciding to switch to Newcastle. A reserve for Queensland’s State of Origin side in 1989, and a surprise winger in 1990, Hagan's contribution to the Knights' success in the early 1990s as on-field general cannot be underestimated. His five seasons with the Knights, mostly as captain, ended when he accepted an offer from Halifax at the end of 1993. Hagan appeared in 92 games for the English club during the early 1990s. It was only fitting then, after several seasons guiding the club’s lower grades, that he succeed Warren Ryan as Newcastle first grade coach in 2001 and capture the premiership in his debut season. Hagan was named Queensland State of Origin coach in 2004.