 Off the field, Hawkins was known as an old-fashioned Aussie larrikin, someone who himself acknowledged he was not one of the smartest people going around, but was always up for a laugh.As a panel member of the Nine Network's "The Footy Show" during the mid-1990s, he was often portrayed as the show's court jester.In 1998, Hawkins moved to the Seven Network and appeared on a Wednesday night rival to "The Footy Show", "Live and Kicking".