Former Western Suburbs prop Scott Hardy still an A-grade performer at 50

Almost 30 years after playing in the Winfield Cup, an old Western Suburbs prop is still lacing up the boots in A-grade after overcoming a serious health scare.

Western Suburbs Old Boy Scott Hardy playing with Londonderry Greys A Grade. Pics courtesy: Scott Morris.

So you ask Scott Hardy how it feels to be the last Winfield Cup player still lacing his boots every weekend? Or at least the last one we can find.

“Ah, dunno,” the old Western Suburbs prop, now 50, shrugs. “I’m not one for telling people I played with the Magpies”.

Still, know that he did. Way back 26 years ago.

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Just as this knockabout Sydney crane operator, a fella who made his first grade debut alongside the likes of Paul Langmack, Andrew Farrar, even Graeme Wynn, has continued playing rugby league at an A-grade level every winter bar last season.

“But I had to have it off,” he says. “I had cancer.”

Western Suburbs Old Boy Scott Hardy playing with Londonderry Greys A Grade. Picture: Scott Morris

Which is why just this once, Hardy has agreed to open up to League Central about his life not only as a Magpie all steel sprigs, black mullet and nose busted 12 times, but most likely the last active Winfield Cup player.

“Because if it encourages even one person to go for a check up,” he says, “it’s worth it”.

Now working 12-hour days to put shipping containers onto trains and trucks at Minto, Hardy is also the father-of-two who nursed wife Julie through thyroid cancer, then a bout of breast cancer, before being struck down by the bastard disease himself. That was in late 2019.

With this old Magpie requiring two bouts of chemotherapy and radiation, plus major surgery, before undertaking another 10 months of physiotherapy just to get well enough for work.

But as for the ordeal being as tough as it sounds?

“Nah, boring,” he says frankly. “I wanted to get the shit over with and get back to work.”

That, and his starting spot with the Londonderry Greys.

Competing in the local Penrith A-grade competition, the Greys are the latest home for this rugby league journeyman who, apart from humping his swag through stints with Guilford, Doonside, Blacktown and Colyton, also boasts those three years and 22 games with the Magpies from 1992.

Making his Winfield Cup debut the same year Boyd Cordner was born, Hardy can speak on what it’s like to be coached by Warren Ryan, blindsided by Jarrod McCracken and pack down against Les Davidson, Mark Carroll, even Paul Harragon.

That, and play footy into your fifties.

But as for if he really is the last Winfield Cup player still going?

The ageing prop has no idea.

Scott Hardy on the charge for Western Suburbs against Manly in 1993. Picture: Getty Images

Certainly if there is anyone else though, he hasn’t heard about them. Nor have we.

But know that if you are that guy still out there carting Steedens too, well, the crown of Last Man Standing won’t be decided this year.

“Because I’m still turning up for work every Monday no problem,” Hardy says. “So I’ve got a few more years left in me yet.”

But again, this isn’t supposed to be a footy yarn. No, what Hardy wants people to know is the story that started late in 2019 with little more than a stomach complaint.

“For a couple of days, I was getting this pain in my gut,” he said. “Then after a trip to the toilet, I saw something that didn’t look right.”

But the point he really wants stressed?

“I immediately made a doctor’s appointment,” he said. “Which is how they found I had rectal cancer. People need to know this is a cancer that, if you get to it early, you have a good chance of surviving. Yet I’ve heard about blokes who had blood in their stool for over a year and never got anything done.

“People need to get checked.”

Which is why, Hardy says, he’s still here.

“Got operated on in February last year,” continues the Winfield Cup prop who debuted same year as Matthew Johns, Scott Sattler and Ken Nagas.

“I had radiation and chemotherapy beforehand, then radiation and chemotherapy afterwards.

“Was also on a bag for a year.

“It was 18 months treatment all up.”

All of which now sees this old Magpie not only upright and breathing, or back to work, but also again playing that game he’s loved since first signing up as a Townsville schoolboy.

Which isn’t to say he ever dreamt of representing Western Suburbs.

“Didn’t even know they existed,” Hardy cackles.

“While I was born in Sydney, we moved to Townsville when I was really young, so the only time I watched Winfield Cup on TV was grand final day.

“And even then throughout the 80s, most of the deciders were Parramatta, Canterbury and Manly. I didn’t know there was anyone else.”

But he would.

Scott Hardy (right) doesn’t shirk his task in defence with Londonderry. Picture: Scott Morris

Returning to Sydney in his early teens, Hardy would eventually be selected for Penrith Jersey Flegg, and then a NSW U19 team, before being signed for three years with Western Suburbs.

“But I can’t give you much,” he apologises. “It’s a long time ago.”

How about one favourite memory then?

“I do remember scoring on debut against Canterbury,” Hardy said, referencing a Bulldogs side boasting Terry Lamb, Jarrod McCracken and Ewan McGrady.

Which also leads us, coincidentally, into his worst memory.

“A McCracken tackle,” he laughs. “I was stepping a defender and Jarrod came in from the other side, got me right up under the ribs.

“That’s one hit I did feel.”

After his three years with Wests, Hardy would then move through a host of park footy clubs — “whenever a mate said come play for us, I would” — before eventually arriving at Londonderry, where this year, and coming off that year-long cancer battle, he decided to only coach.

But then a few weeks back, well, a few of the boys never showed.

Scott Hardy takes the ball up for Londonderry Greys A Grade. Picture: Scott Morris

“So 10 minutes before kick off I grabbed a jersey and some deep heat,” he said.

But why?

“Because it’s fun,” the prop said. “You hit people, they hit you, it’s good.”

Which means again this weekend, Hardy will continue that incredible yarn of the Magpie all ankle boots, broken nose and flowing black mane.

“Although the hair, it’s all gone now sadly,” he said. “A few years ago, a mate dared me to get a Kostya Tszyu cut.

“So I did.

“Shaved it all but for a long rat’s tail down my back.

“Unfortunately, only had it a day though. My missus wanted it gone.”

But maybe you could at least revive the mullet, given how it’s now back in every way itself?

“I’ve actually thought about that,” Hardy grins. “But who knows?

“I’m probably getting a bit old for that sort of thing.”

Originally published as Former Western Suburbs prop Scott Hardy still an A-grade performer at 50