Terry Hill Tribute
A young Terry Hill was impossible to miss on the footy field. Playing for the Zetland Magpies, he would constantly be scoring tries, setting them up and just tormenting the opposition in general. In 2021 he told Bunnies TV “My dream was just to play for Souths”. In 1990 that dream came true.
On the 24th of April, 2024 Terry Hill died suddenly in the Phillipines aged just 52. A champion rugby league player, TV star, greyhound breeder and businessman taken way too soon.
An Erko Boy
Terry Hill was an inner city Sydney kid who went to Erskineville Public School and Newtown High. He played all his junior rugby league with “the best junior club in the world, Zetland” as he described it in our 2021 live interview.
When asked about Terry, legendary SG Ball coach Graham ‘Nigsy’ Hill said “He was a a tough bugger. When he was a kid Jimmy Dymock said he scored 100 tries and never passed the ball once! Him and Jimmy are good mates and Jimmy used to send him up.”
Terry grew up as an undeniably taented player and was destined to play first grade. In round 1 of the 1990 NSWRL season, that opportunity came for the 18 year old. Phil Blake uncharacteristically turned up late for training so coach George Piggins dropped him and selected Terry to start at centre.
Not surprisingly Terry Hill scored the first try of the game, joining an elite group to have done so on debut. When asked about the try, Terry said “My old mate (Graham) ‘Chunky’ Lyons put me in for a try in the left hand corner.”
A Stellar Career
The Bulldogs, led by Terry Lamb would eventually win that round 1 clash but Terry Hill went on to achieve every honour in the game. He made 246 NRL appearances scoring 89 tries, 14 State of Origins for NSW and 8 test matches for the Kangaroos.
The Footy Show
In retirement Terry Hill became a regular on the Footy Show. He featured in plenty of memorable moments. His live crosses wearing the gold jacket at greyhound tracks were always funny and entertaining. In 18 months his work with the greyhound ‘Nads’ raised $250k for the Children’s Hospital.
Memories of Tezza
When I played Harold Matthews Cup for the Rabbitohs in 1981 our ballboy was Terry Hill. We both fondly remembered the bus tour we went on up to Nambucca Heads and across to Mooree.
Every Christmas I used to travel up to the Central Coast to spend Christmas with my grandparents who lived at Woy Woy. Terry was living in the area and was mates with my cousin Ian so he would sometimes drop in to say hello. My girlfriend at the time and now wife Sam said that Terry was always such a nice young bloke to be around. “He was an absoulte gentleman” she added.
Life After Footy
Over the years I bumped into Terry at Wentworth Park dogs and also in Bali at the Y Bar. He had become a successful businessman and liked to travel. He will be sadly missed, rest in peace mate.
Terry Hill Tribute.
By Steve Mavin for Bunnies TV.
RIP legend 😢