See the larrikin moments that made Terry Hill a true footy cult hero before his shock death aged just 52

Footy giant Terry Hill won a grand final and played for the NSW Blues and Australia before passing away at the age of 52. So it’s telling that he’s remembered as much for what he did off the field as for what he did on it.

The Manly legend recently died of a heart attack in the Philippines, leaving the rugby league world shocked by the loss of one of the game’s most colorful characters.

Hill played 246 games in a club career that saw him play for Souths, Easts, Wests, Manly and the Wests Tigers, as well as playing 14 games for NSW and a further nine for his country.

He was instrumental in the Sea Eagles reaching the premiership in 1996 and was known for his ‘take-no-prisoners’ style of play in State of Origin and international football matches, but is equally loved by fans for his larrikin- ways.

His live crosses of the Dapto greyhound races on The Footy Show – including a classic interview with an almost toothless punter (pictured) – earned him a cult following

Hill’s flair for comedy and love of entertainment were evident during his regular appearances on The Footy Show at the height of the programme’s fame.

He was a noted greyhound racing fan and dog owner and was best known for organizing live crossbreeds with sled dog racing, especially at Dapto on New Zealand’s south coast.

In one particularly memorable cross that is still making the rounds on social media, he threw the studio panel into fits of laughter when he interviewed a nearly toothless greyhound fan named George Baggana.

Dressed in a sparkling gold jacket and bow tie combination that looked completely out of place in Dapto’s very casual environment, he asked Baggana to “give the audience a big smile” – prompting him to respond: “I nothing to say. smile along!’

Hill played a big part in the show and owned his own greyhound called ‘Nads’ – so anyone supporting him in a race shouted ‘Go Nads!’ – and the dog became so famous in his own right that the footy star even took him to film premieres to interview famous actors.

Hill’s lisp became one of his trademarks and he played it up by laughing on the program – sending fans into hysterics with his often creative approach to the English language

Hill was also known for his lisp, but instead of shying away from it, he loved to play it and have the mickey taken out of him.

In another live cross from Dapto, Hill pretended to be baffled and offended as he read the odds for one race – only to find they had all been changed to ’66 in one’ to let him show off his speech impediment.

His mistakes in reading the Footy Show scripts became a trademark and proved he enjoyed fooling himself when he described the atmosphere at Dapto as ‘electronic’ rather than ‘electric’, and pronounced ‘anticipation’ as ‘am-patip-patipitation’.

‘Tezza’ also confused Hollywood superstar Keanu Reeves during a one-on-one interview on the show by ambushing him with a hilarious question about one of his biggest films.

“Rugby League has had a lot of drug problems lately, you know, with drugs in the sport,” he began.

‘But obviously not for you. A few years ago you made a lot of money with speed.’

Reeves was startled, hiding his eyes with his hand before replying, “Speed, yes – speed is good!”

Keanu Reeves laughed when Hill hit him with a very cheeky question about drugs in sport during a memorable Footy Show segment

It’s no wonder that former Footy Show boss Glenn Pallister described him as ‘the first player who really showed a personality and we said, wow! This man is a talent!’

Pallister recalled that Hill – who was widely regarded as one of the sport’s best sledders – came across a Queenslander in Origin who was also a regular on the program and put him off his game by shouting: ‘Mate, your segment on the s from The Footy Show **at home!’

The Newtown-born entertainer was also hilarious away from the TV cameras.

His teammate at Wests Tigers, Joel Caine, said the club told players to buy brand new bikes for training purposes during Hill’s time with the team.

“He refused to buy the bike – and he was probably the highest paid player at the club,” Caine recalls.

‘He shows up with the oldest bike he could find, one with a basket and tassels, no gears or anything like that, and all that [trainer] Tony Green likes him… and Terry said: ‘When was the last time you saw someone cycle to score a try?’

‘Tezza’ didn’t save all his larrikin humor for the TV studio – as he proved when he pulled off some of the craziest acting you’ll ever see when he faked being knocked out during a Wests Tigers match against Parramatta (photo)

Former Footy Show boss Glenn Pallister said Hill (pictured during a more recent appearance on the show) was the first player with the personality needed to become a real TV star

Hill also delighted every Leichhardt Oval fan with a wonderful piece of theater in a match against Parramatta.

With the Tigers leading 12-0 and defending their tryline, he tried to tackle Nathan Hindmarsh but was cleared and had his head hit the grass.

Hill immediately jumped back to his feet, went to the marker, pointed at Hindmarsh as if to tell the referee he deserved a penalty… and then fell to the ground as if shot by a tranquilizer dart.

Hill searched for all the world as if in a deep sleep, remaining motionless with his eyes closed as trainers rushed over to treat him.

Suddenly Hill opened his eyes, shook his head from side to side as if roused from a deep sleep by having a bucket of cold water thrown over him, and made a full recovery.

It was the kind of hammy acting you’d expect from a sketch on The Footy Show – and exactly the kind of hysterical display that won Hill as much fame and admiration as any of the tries he scored.