Paul Hauff

Paul Hauff towered over opponents – his 197cm frame made him close to unstoppable, in full flight.

A Cairns Saints' junior, the fullback burst onto the first grade scene for the Brisbane Broncos in 1990, when he and Willie Carne were part of a new wave of exciting backline talent emerging in Queensland. Hauff and Carne shared the Rookie of the Year Award at the Broncos that year.

Hauff played all three games for the Maroons in 1991, capped by a crucial try in Game III, which saw Queensland reclaim the Origin Shield in Wally Lewis's emotional farewell.

Only injury prevented 'Hauffy' from achieving a lot more in the code. He could pull balls out of the air like Spiderman.

Willie Carne FOG #66

The following month, Hauff made his Test debut for Australia, against New Zealand in Melbourne, in what also proved to be Lewis's farewell to the international arena.

A shoulder injury saw Hauff miss much of the 1992 season, with Julian O'Neill playing fullback in the grand final wins in 1992 and 1993.

Hauff made sporadic first grade appearances for Brisbane between 1993 and 1995. He joined the London Broncos' at the end of the 1995 Australian season, and played in the last winter competition in Britain, before summer football was introduced in 1996.

Hauff returned to Australia that year, and played one final top grade match for Brisbane - against Manly - before retiring from football, and resuming his career in the Queensland Police Service.