Michael Hagan
Five-eighth / centre / wing
Player Bio
- Date of Birth:
- 12 August 1964
- Birthplace:
- Brisbane, Queensland
- Origin Debut:
- 23 May 1983
- Venue:
- Lang Park
Career
Achievements
- State of Origin debut - Game I, 1989 at Lang Park
Career statistics
- Games
- 5
- Points
- 0
- Tries
- 0
Biography
Wests Mitchelton junior, Michael Hagan is one of a rare group to have represented the Queensland Maroons as a player, and coach.
Hagan earned the first of his five Maroons caps in 1989, from Newcastle Knights. He was chosen on the interchange bench because of his ability to cover halfback, five-eighth and centre.
He started at halfback in Game III of the 1989 series, replacing Allan Langer, who had broken his leg in an epic encounter in Game II.
The following year, Hagan was named at five-eighth for the first game of the series, replacing injured skipper, Wally Lewis, with Paul Vautin assuming the captaincy.
Hagan is the younger brother of former Test centre, Bob Hagan, who had a huge impact on Michael's career.
The younger Hagan made his first grade debut for Canterbury-Bankstown in 1983, and was five-eighth in the Bulldogs' 7-6 win over St George in the 1985 grand final.
He won another premiership with Canterbury in 1988, playing halfback this time, in a 24-12 win over Balmain.
You felt that expectation when you came in, of how good a team it was and that you needed to play at the best level you could ...
Michael Hagan FOG #61 on being part of the Maroons
Hagan had five seasons with Newcastle, captaining the side for much of that time.
He had two stints with Halifax in England - the first in the 1980s, and the second in the 1990s.
He was football manager of Super League club, Hunter Mariners in 1997.
Hagan’s football acumen made him a natural coach, and in his first year in charge of the Knights, in 2001, he guided the club to a stunning premiership triumph.
He took on the Parramatta coaching job in 2007, and spent two seasons there. In 2004 and 2005, Hagan, as Queensland coach, presided over a shift in playing personnel, which laid the foundations for the golden generation to come.
He served as Mal Meninga’s assistant coach for much of the Maroons' amazing run of nine series wins in 10 years, and then joined Mal Meninga on the Australian coaching staff.
He was director of football at Newcastle in 2014-15.
In 2019, he delivered the annual Ross Livermore Memorial Lecture in Brisbane.
Former Origin Greats
Queensland Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.