Michael Hancock

Block-busting Stanthorpe winger joined Brisbane in the club’s initial season in the NSWRL after starring as a 17-year-old for Toowoomba in the State League. A member of the first Brisbane run-on team that thrashed defending premiers Manly in 1988, Hancock made his Test debut on the 1989 tour of NZ while still a teenager. After representing Queensland that year, and proving himself a top-class winger with pace, strength and elusiveness, he played in all matches on the NZ tour, including three Tests. In 1990 he missed the one-off Test against France with a hamstring injury but was chosen in the Test against NZ before touring with the Kangaroos. 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 force his way back into the Test teams against NZ or gain a spot on the tour of Papua New Guinea. For several seasons Hancock battled to rectify a niggling part of his game (fighting against the tackler) but after regaining his Test spot against Great Britain in 1991 he was a member of the Broncos’ grand final teams that defeated St George in 1992-93. Travelling to England, he played in Australia's World Cup final win and scored two tries in Brisbane's World Club Championship victory over Wigan. Hancock made tours of NZ (1993), Great Britain and France (1994 Kangaroos) but his Test career was put on hold when he injured his shoulder in a training mishap on the 1994 Kangaroo Tour. Hancock was actually 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 Cronulla took him past the century mark and although his representative career ended, he savoured another premiership title in 1998. 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 Roosters in the 2000 grand final to play for Salford in England.