Terry Hill dead, aged 52: Tributes flow after sudden death of rugby league icon

The rugby league community has been rocked by the sudden death of NRL, NSW Origin and Kangaroos icon, Terry Hill. Read the touching tributes.

Terry Hill has sadly passed away.

Former NSW and Australian centre Terry Hill has died in the Philippines, aged 52.

It is understood he passed away from a heart attack.

A rugged centre with a colourful background, Hill had been spending more time in the Philippines during recent years.

He was married to a Philippines local and travelled back and forth between Asia and Sydney.

Hill’s family have been notified of his death. He worked in the markets and lived in Homebush.

He played 246 first grade games for Souths, Easts, Wests, Manly and Wests Tigers between 1990 and 2003.

Manly will wear black armbands against Parramatta at Brookvale this Friday night in honour of Hill.

Hill famously, and successfully, fought against the introduction of a rugby league draft in 1991 after wanting to play Wests but being forced to Easts.

“He was a typical kid from Erskineville,” said former Souths teammate Craig Coleman.

“Terry was a fantastic South Sydney junior and we looked after him when he came into grade. He was a proud Souths junior.

“He was a tremendous footballer. I know his whole family. It’s very sad, devastating.

“He was loved by everyone. He was a good-hearted bloke.”

Newtown-born Hall played four Tests for Australia and 14 State of Origin games for NSW.

Away from the game, Hill was a larrikin who appeared regularly on Channel 9’s Footy Show.

He was also known for being among the game’s best on-field sledgers.

He also did promotional work for Lowes Menswear and was a member of the 1994 Kangaroos which toured England and France.

TRIBUTES FLOW FOR TERRY HILL

Former NRL player David Gillespie was with Hill in the Philippines last week, the pair helping to raise $26,000 for a local orphanage.

“I was with Terry only last week,” Gillespie said. “He was usual self, the life of the party.

“Terry was fine and had everyone in stitches at the fundraiser. His death is sudden, unexpected and incredibly sad. He was a very generous person.

“As a player, Terry was relentless, tough and uncompromising. He would give it and take it.”

Manly CEO Tony Mestrov added: “Terry is a legend of the Manly club and will be sadly missed by the club and our fans.

“He had plenty of personality which endeared him to a lot of people.”

Ex-Wests teammate Paul Langmack was deeply saddened at Hill’s death.

“Terry was very energetic and loved to sledge on the field,” Langmack said.

“He was a tough competitor. He had a great career.”

Former Manly player and official Peter Peters said: “Terry was a tremendous competitor and one of the best sledgers ever in the game.

“But it never deterred from the standard he reached in just about every game he played.”

Former 2GB work colleague, Darryl Brohman posted: “Terry was a larrikin but deep-down a good guy.”

Geoff Toovey captained Hill in the club’s 1996 premiership victory.

“Terry was a great player for Manly,’’ Toovey told Manly’s website.

“He was a good friend. He did a lot of good things for his team-mates. My sincere condolences to his family.”

HILL’S SECOND LOVE

The NSW Greyhound Racing industry expressed its shock and sadness following the news of Terry Hill’s sudden passing.

Terry was extremely passionate about his greyhounds, as an owner and a major supporter of the sport.

“Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW), and in fact the entire greyhound racing community, is deeply saddened today by this tragic news of the passing of Terry Hill,” GRNSW Chief Executive Officer Rob Macaulay said.

“Terry was one of the great assets of the greyhound industry. He has been a lifelong supporter of greyhound racing, has owned some wonderful champion greyhounds along the way, and more importantly, his passion for the sport was infectious.

NRL great Terry Hill at the track. Picture: Facebook

“Terry had great enthusiasm for greyhound racing and was responsible for helping the sport to attract widespread media coverage in the 1990s with his live television crosses to Dapto on a Thursday night during the Channel Nine Footy Show to watch his greyhound Nads race.

“Years later Terry said he would be stopped on The Corso at Manly not to be asked about his football career, but to chat about Nads and the racetrack he loved, Dapto.

Would love to see a heap of Gold Jackets at Dapto Dogs tomorrow night for Terry. pic.twitter.com/CBL631bZlP

— Roast (@thenrlroast) April 24, 2024

“Only last year Terry gave of his time to be on hand at Dapto to help GRNSW promote the Group 1 Megastar at that venue.

“On behalf of GRNSW and the entire greyhound community in NSW, I offer our deepest condolences to Terry’s family and his enormous group of friends.

“Terry Hill will be sorely missed.”

Vale Terry Hill.https://t.co/2jtdK2ovQVpic.twitter.com/6td7y5FlO3

— Manly Warringah Sea Eagles (@SeaEagles) April 24, 2024

Terry Hill dead, aged 52: NRL community rocked by sudden death of rugby league legend https://t.co/kPTmE7goLP@dailytelegraph

— Sandra Sully AM 📺🎧📲🏑🌺 (@Sandra_Sully) April 24, 2024