ONE of the most whole-hearted players of his generation, Gary Mercer was twice part of a New Zealand team that beat Australia.
The bulk of his professional career was here in England as he represented Bradford, Warrington, Leeds and Halifax with distinction before he moved into coaching in both codes. His son, Zach Mercer, won two England rugby union caps in 2018.
If you could relive one day from your career, which would it be?
I’ll go for a Challenge Cup Final, because I lost three, all to Wigan, and hopefully I’d win one this time! I lost in 1990 with Warrington and then with Leeds in 1994 and 1995. I got an ankle injury the week before 1990 and had a cortisone to get me through it. I came closest in 1994, but that’s when Martin Offiah went the length of the field.
Living in a rugby union-obsessed country, how did you get into Rugby League?
There was no Rugby League at school. I played union on Saturdays and League on Sundays. This was back in 1979. I liked League because you could hold on to the ball, which suited me because I was quite greedy. I made Premiership standard at 18 and played for the Kiwi Under-19s. Then I got picked for the senior squad in 1986 to tour Australia and Papua New Guinea, although I didn’t play in a Test. That tour was a massive eye-opener. I remember getting a minibus from Port Moresby to Goroka, and the driver was chewing betelnut, which is a bit like having a joint. He was off his head and Dean Lonergan, one of our players, had to drive the bus. When we got there, there were rocks all over the pitch, so the game was called off, and we went back on the bus.
You had a great start to your Test career, winning your first four games. What do you remember of your second cap – a 13-6 win over Australia in which you scored a crucial try?
I played fullback on my debut against PNG and then wing against Australia. Not many players have played in four different positions for the Kiwis, but I also played second row and prop very briefly. The win over Australia was great. It was a one-off Test at Lang Park. The press rubbished us and predicted that we’d get our arses kicked. They had Wally Lewis, Peter Sterling and Gene Miles – a legendary team, but we had Hugh McGahan, Dean Bell, the late Adrian Shelford, Gary Freeman, Clayton Friend, Darrell Williams, Kevin Iro, Mark Elia – a great team too. We really rattled them that night. Mark Horo and Sam Stewart made about 40 tackles each. Dean was very instrumental that night. Clayton was excellent too.
The Kiwis beat Great Britain to secure a place in the 1988 World Cup Final. What would winning that final have done for the code in New Zealand?
I don’t remember too much of the Great Britain game, but we knew they’d just beaten the Aussies. It was very wet, and Gary Freeman scored two down the flank. For the final, we had a huge crowd at Eden Park, but I didn’t have a good game. I’d broken my ribs in training two weeks before, and I needed a big cortisone into my ribs. Australia were too good for us. It wasn’t a great game, but rugby [union] was always going to be the dominant code in New Zealand, no matter what had happened that night.
By this time, you were a Bradford player, having joined them in the summer of 1987. How did you enjoy rubbing shoulders with characters like Keith Mumby, Karl Fairbank and David Hobbs?
I came over with Russell Stewart and did two seasons. It was a great experience for a young lad who had barely been out of New Zealand. David Hobbs was the one I respected the most, and he took me under his wing. Keith Mumby was a legend. I have good memories of Bradford. They were mid-table, so I got lots of game time in the centres. It was drizzly, dark and miserable, but I loved it.
How much were you on?
I was on good money to be fair. I got £150 a week, plus winning money, free accommodation and flights. It was a good deal for a 20-year-old. I sent a lot back to my parents because there were three New Zealand dollars to the pound back then.
You were voted the Kiwis’ man of the series against Great Britain in 1989. How did you lose the second Test when you played against 12 men for 79 minutes?
In the first Test, our fullback Darrell Williams got injured. I moved there, and I remember hoping Offiah wouldn’t make a break. Within two minutes, he did, and he turned me inside out to score! But we still won the game. When Steve Hampson got sent off, Gary Freeman had obviously said something to him, and he headbutted him. Gary could be quite antagonising! Teams do win with 12 men though. The red card inspired the Great Britain team and their fans.
You briefly mentioned Wembley 1990. What do you recollect of Mike Gregory’s performance that day?
He was absolutely inspirational. It was so sad to lose someone like that. He was brilliant for us and for Great Britain. He scored under the sticks that day. I really enjoyed Warrington. They signed me on the back of the 1989 Test series. I came over with Duane Mann. Brian Johnson was coach. I had a lot of time for him. Dessie [Drummond] was another legend there. Offiah scored against us one day. Dessie looked to see where the ref was, and he just dropped him. He was a great character. He was so genuine and down to earth.
Why did you sign for Leeds in the summer of 1992 when Castleford offered you more money?
Dougie Laughton and Ellery Hanley were the reasons I signed. Dougie just sold it to me really well, and he signed some great players from Widnes. I thought he was an excellent coach. Leeds were so big. Soon after I signed, Ellery phoned me and suggested we go for a run around Roundhay Park. He has such an aura about him. So went on this run together, and I kept up with him. Afterwards, he said, “You’ll do.” My best years were with Leeds.
It has been suggested the club didn’t have a happy dressing room. Was that your experience?
That is completely wrong. I don’t know where that comes from. They were so professional. The piss-taking and banter were great. There may have been some tension when Ellery was Great Britain coach and Garry Schofield didn’t get picked in the first Test, but Garry won his place back in the squad. We all knew Garry liked a beer, and he spent a bit of time in Stoggies, but there was never a problem in the dressing room with him and Ellery. You could sense Garry and Doug Laughton didn’t get on, but I loved Dougie. Ellery did most of the coaching though. We didn’t win trophies because Wigan were just far too good for everybody, and no one could compete with them. It was nothing to do with team spirit.
You must have been honoured to become captain in 1996.
Dean Bell was coach by then. His assistant Hugh McGahan came over first. He upset a few players before Dean came in. Hugh was starting to lose the changing room. I wasn’t playing particularly well. Dean dropped me to the ‘A’ Team for a spell. I played well in the ‘A’ Team, and he told me I’d proved myself. Not only did he recall me, but he also made me captain! We only just survived in 1996, and I wasn’t great, but we rebuilt in 1997, and I felt that was a good note to end my Leeds career on, even though I had a year left.
When you were captain, you said, “The day Adrian Morley beats me at anything is the day I retire,” which made me wonder if the two of you didn’t get on. What was your relationship like?
I loved the kid. You cannot not love Adrian Morley! I was happy to hand my shirt to him because I knew he’d gone past me. What a career he had. He conquered Australia. It was my decision to leave. I’d done well in 1997 as captain. I went to Gary Hetherington and asked to be released. David Hobbs had asked me to go to Halifax, and they were putting a good team together with John Pendlebury.
Did you regret leaving, given how good Leeds were in 1998?
Not at all because Halifax were great in 1998. We had a very good side. Paul Rowley was a great hooker. Karl Harrison and Kelvin Skerrett were two props – what a front row. We had some top players like Gavin Clinch, Martin Pearson and Daryl Cardiss. John Pendlebury was a great coach. He was probably my best coach in pro rugby. But financial problems kicked in. John left, and I was asked to become player-coach, which I loved, but I knew I had to train well if I was going to pick myself. I brought in Martin Hall as my assistant.
You joined Warrington in 2001. How good were Alfie Langer and Tawera Nikau?
They were class players. Tawera is a close friend of mine. But Darryl van de Velde got sacked and the replacement, Steve Anderson said he wouldn’t pick me. I rang up Daryl Powell because the Rhinos had injury problems with Bradley Clyde. Powelly spoke to Gary, and I went over for six games there at the end of the 2001 season. I loved Leeds and it was great to play with Rob Burrow, Kevin Sinfield and Jamie Jones-Buchanan and all those young players who went on to win all that silverware.
You ended your playing career with one game for Castleford in 2002. What happened?
I was Graham Steadman’s assistant, and I told him I’d keep fit and play if needed. Sure enough, there were some injuries for a game at Hull, and I pulled on the boots. I knew after that, I was gone. I stayed assistant to Graham and then took over in 2004, but we got relegated. Ellery came in briefly because we had problems with a couple of the players who weren’t fronting up. I still remember after we got relegated the Castleford fans turned on singing, “Mercer is a Rhino”. I thought that was funny, but my wife wasn’t impressed! I coached Oldham in 2005 and turned them around to finish mid-table.
Why did you switch codes?
At the same time as Oldham, I was going up to Glasgow Warriors to do defence and that’s when my time in rugby union began. To be honest, I wish I’d done that earlier. I worked in Scotland for several years. I now have a great job in schools’ rugby at Ashville College, an independent school in Harrogate
Do the kids know about your playing career?
When they ask me, I tell them to look me up on Wikipedia! I love the kids and I’m very privileged to be here.
