[1] A New Zealand international winger, he was the pre-eminent goal-kicker of his era, retiring as the highest point scorer in Australian premiership history.

Halligan played club football in Australia for the North Sydney Bears and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, winning the 1995 ARL Premiership with the latter.

Halligan attended Hamilton Boys' High School and made the New Zealand national schoolboy rugby union team in 1984.

Canterbury had defied the odds as they came from sixth place on the table to defeat minor premiers Manly in the decider who had lost only two games all season.

[citation needed] Halligan is noted for revolutionising goal-kicking by using a plastic tee from which to kick, instead of the old method where kickers would set the ball upon a mound of sand or earth.