Debut: Vs St Helens (H) 3oth August 1992

Leeds Honours: Challenge Cup (Finalist: 1994, 1995)

A tremendous servant to the Leeds club having joined them in August 1992 and also came back for a brief spell at the end of the 2001 season. During his first spell at the club he appeared in the Challenge Cup Finals in 1994 and 1995.

In six and a half seasons at the club he made 164 appearances scoring 43 tries at the English club he spent the longest time with. Gary also captained Leeds in 1997.

Gary made his second debut at Castleford on Saturday 18th August 2001 after returning from Warrington Wolves.

Mercer joined Leeds from Warrington on both occasions. He originally came to England to play for Bradford between 1987 and 1989 where he won the Yorkshire Cup, before he moved to Wilderspool.

Whilst there he reached the Challenge Cup Final in 1990 and won the Regal Trophy and Lancashire Cup during his three seasons at the Wolves. After leaving Leeds he moved to Halifax Blue Sox and became Player Coach during the 1999 season, a position he held until 2001.

After leaving the Shay he returned to playing before retiring and had stints back with Warrington and then Leeds. At the end of the 2001 season, Mercer joined Castleford Tigers as Assistant Coach to Graham Steadman and injuries at the start of the 2002 season meant he had to come out of retirement once again.

Mercer represented New Zealand on 21 occasions scoring four tries including three tours.