 He spent the 1989 NSWRL season playing in the lower grades for Norths before moving to Port Macquarie on the NSW mid-north coast in 1990 where he represented North Coast against the touring French side that year.While playing for Port Macquarie against Taree Old Bar he tackled Brett King, causing him to defecate in his shorts.McCracken was playing his football in Port Macquarie when he was spotted by Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Chief Executive Peter Moore who persuaded the young Centre to join The Bulldogs in 1991, and he ended up staying with the club until 1995, although he also spent the 1992/93 English season with St. Helens.