Shannon Hegarty

Hard-running centre, originally from Mackay, swept all before him in the 2003 season. After coming to Sydney in 1999, Hegarty played in the Roosters’ team beaten by Brisbane in the 2000 grand final, 14-6, and he scored the opening try in the club’s emphatic win over the Warriors in the 2002 premiership decider. Hegarty made three appearances for Queensland in 2003’s State of Origin series and was a try-scorer in his Test debut in Australia’s 48-6 thrashing of NZ in July that year. After scoring the Roosters’ sole try in the disappointing 18-6 loss to Penrith in the 2003 grand final, the speedy, bald-headed centre went to NZ and played in the shock 30-16 loss to the Kiwis before heading to England on the Kangaroo Tour. Hegarty played in four matches in England, including a First Test appearance from the wing, but injury led him to miss the early part of the 2004 seasons and his rep career lost momentum. After a second successive grand final loss, against the Bulldogs in 2004, Hegarty moved to Souths in 2005.