Remembering rugby league great Terry Hill and three of his iconic sledges

No opposition player was safe from Terry Hill - not even one of the nicest men to ever lace up a boot. Following his passing, here are three of his most memorable sledging moments.

Terry Hill makes a point to a touch judge during Manly v Cronulla NRL game at Brookvale Oval in Sydney.

You’ve been sucked in by an old man.

Those are words from former champion Terry Hill that will forever make ex-Manly official Peter Peters enjoy a quiet chuckle.

Hill died on Wednesday in the Philippines aged 52 from a heart attack.

His legacy will combine a player with a fierce will-to-win coupled with a larrikin who was among the best sledgers in rugby league.

Teammates recall a game in 2005 when Hill had been coaxed out of retirement aged 33 by then Manly coach Des Hasler.

Hill has spent much of the previous summer losing some excess weight while training at Sydney’s North Head.

Terry Hill clashes with Clinton Toopi. Picture: Rugby League A/CT

CLINTON TOOPI

Manly’s first game of the season was against New Zealand in Auckland with Hill opposing Warriors centre Clinton Toopi.

Hill repeatedly verballed Toopi for the entire first half with the Warriors player clearly agitated and humiliated.

Terry Hill was one to make his feeling known.

Toopi was so upset at being sledged so ruthlessly that he was replaced just before halftime.

“I clearly remember looking over at halftime and seeing Terry still hammering Toopi, who was sitting on the Warriors sideline bench,” said former Manly official Peter Peters.

“Terry told Toopi: ‘You’ve been sucked in by an old man.’

“I almost felt sorry for Toopi. Terry was relentless that day. Even when Toopi was replaced and sitting the bench, Terry just kept going at him.

“He was the best sledger since Bob Fulton, who was Terry’s former Manly and Australian coach.”

Manly won the game 26-20.

Terry Hill is embraced by Steve Menzies and Manly teammates.

‘PEARL RENOUF’

Former teammate Steve Menzies recalls a match against Brisbane in the mid-1990s.

Hill had been told to unsettle one of Brisbane’s most potent weapons, centre Steve Renouf.

“Terry started sledging ‘Pearl’ (Renouf) from the minute he ran onto the field,” remembered Menzies. “He just ripped into Steve all game.

“It went on for 80 minutes, Terry didn’t stop talking. If you gave Terry some pre-game instructions he usually carried them out.

“He always loved to laugh and joke around in the locker room. It often revolved around one-liners he had.

Terry Hill gets into a brawl. Picture: Mark Evans

“Away from the field Terry was a larrikin but when it was time to work he trained hard. Terry was one of the best talkers I have ever heard.

“His passion, determination, and aggression was second to none. At the peak of his career, Terry was one of the world’s best centres.

“My thoughts and condolences are with his family and friends.”

PAUL LANGMACK

Hill’s best sledging appeared to come in maroon and white, with his verbal sprays relentless for all oppositions as Manly were flying high in the 1990s.

Against Wests one day while a scrum was being packed, Hill yelled at Paul Langmack: “Hey Langers, you’re right. That Andrew Willis can’t play.”

Langmack, a renowned sledger himself, said Willis wouldn’t talk to him for two weeks.

Another one of his favourite jabs was “You’re a reserve grader.”