Graham Mackay

One of the few success stories of the short-lived draft system Wests winger Graham Mackay was 31st draft choice when snapped up by Penrith coach Phil Gould at the beginning of 1991. A representative in the Combined High Schools RU team before joining Wests Mackay was also a capable goal-kicker in his time with the Magpies and played with the strength an extra forward in the backline. A member of Penrith's premiership-winning team in 1991 he represented NSW the following year and made his Test debut against Papua New Guinea in Townsville. Mackay scored two tries in a man-of-the-match performance but although he was chosen in Australia's World Cup squad at year's end he did not play in the final. Despite his goal-kicking ability and strong bursts down the flank Mackay’s rep form during the next two years was inconsistent and he was dropped after NSW’s loss in the first State of Origin match in 1994. Mackay quit the Panthers at the end of the season to link with his former coach Phil Gould at Easts but the move was short-lived and he joined the South Queensland Crushers for the club’s second season in the ARL. He then signed the neighbouring G’Coast club following a pay dispute with the cash-strapped Crushers and captained the ‘Chargers’ during the final two years of the club’s existence. Following the demise of the G’Coast, Mackay signed with his sixth club, Manly, for 1999 before joining English club Leeds the following year. Mackay represented Scotland in the 2000 World Cup competition before joining eventual English Super League premiers Bradford in 2001.