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Stats are missing seasons played with Eastern Suburbs and Hull K R

CRONULLA SUTHERLAND DREAMTEAM ANNOUNCED July 2006

Fullback ... David Peachey
Winger ... Mat Rogers
Centre ... Steve Rogers
Centre ... Andrew Ettingshausen
Winger ... Ray Corcoran
5/8 ... Chris Wellman
Half ... Tommy Bishop
Lock ... Greg Pierce
S/r ... Gavin Miller
S/R ... Ken Maddison
Prop ... Cliff Watson
Prop ... Jason Stevens
Hooker ... Ron Turner
Reserve .... Dane Sorensen
Reserve ... Steve Kneen
Reserve ... Brett Kimmorley
Reserve ... Mark McGaw

Big tackles and fighting between Australian Kangaroo and New Zealand Kiwi rugby league players.. includes a small snippet of Miller - To view just click the Link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aclrv2pd3bQ

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Gavin began his career in 1978 as a 17 year old centre at Western Suburbs in 1977. In 1978 he moved to Eastern Suburbs before making his presence known with his next club, Cronulla, where he settled the into second-row position. In 1983 became the youngest ever captain in the Sydney competition at Cronulla, aged 23. This was the season when Cronulla hit financial trouble and players wages were cut in half. Miller became spokesman for the players and raised $22,000 for the club in sponsorship also earning a state of origin selection for New South Wales.

He came over to England as an unknown property and had never played loose-forward before coming to Rovers.
Who? was the almost universal question when they announced the signing of Gavin Miller before the 1984-85 season. After the double winning exploits of the previous season Rovers fans were expected a big name replacement for John Dorahy who would not be returning that season.

Only the keenest followers of Aussie rugby would have been aware of the existence of Gavin Miller, a player who arrived on these shores with a reputation as a rugged tackler and good organiser. It seemed that Rovers were signing Miller as back up for the long hard season awaiting them.
From such unknown origins, who would have guessed the impact Gavin Miller would then proceed to have on Hull KR, English rugby and International rugby.

Gavin made his debut after injury to Rovers' regular loose forward, Dave Hall, and began his Rovers career with a sound, if unspectacular, performance in a 31-5 win at Oldham. Despite being overshadowed by his fellow forwards in that game, Gavin must have done something right in the eyes of Rovers coach Roger Millward, for he managed to claim the loose forward berth as his own as Rovers powered towards another title, only losing his place as injury struck in the closing weeks of the season.

During that first season Gavin quickly gained a reputation as a hard tackler and a player who, despite not being the biggest of forwards, was very difficult to put down and was a more than useful passer of the ball.
From being a virtual unknown at the start of the season, Gavin was quickly becoming a favourite of the Rovers fans, playing an imprtant part in many vital wins as Rovers secured that second championship on the trot.
Rovers had no hesitation in making sure Gavin would be returning for the following season. Indeed, it was in season 1985-86 that the name Gavin Miller exploded onto the rugby league map. A season that was long, hard and ultimately heartbreaking as Rovers lost the chance of a third championship due to an impossible schedule of matches which led to them playing several games with much weakened line-ups, and saw their chance of Wembley glory disappear by the width of a goal post.

Gavin quickly took upon himself the mantle of playmaker as Rovers began the season in impressive style, winning their opening five league games (including a heartstopping 19-18 defeat of Wigan, thanks to Andy Kelly's 40 yard drop goal) and bulldozing their way to the Yorkshire Cup final, beating rivals Hull FC in the first round. Many games were dominated by the burly figure of Gavin Miller as often a quick burst, a dummy and an astute defence-splitting pass would create a try scoring situation out of nothing.

Also proving more than a useful try scorer that season, Gavin was not just proving vital on attack, his defence was also a strong part of his game.

A man of the match performance in the Yorkshire Cup final crowned a perfect start to the season for Miller and Rovers. As the season progressed, Gavin came more and more prominent as a real star in a Rovers team packed with rugby league stars. Great performances in leading Rovers into the John Player Trophy Final and the Challenge Cup final resulted in Gavin receiving the ultimate individual honours in the game, being named as the 1985-86 Man of Steel and First Division PLayer of the Year.

Sadly Rovers would not end the season on a high note, as a heavily strapped Gavin Miller, struggling with a leg injury which meant he could barely break above a jog, was unable to spur Rovers to victory in the Challenge Cup Final, Rovers losing 15-14 to Castleford.

The following season 1986-87 was a personal disaster for Gavin as injury blighted what was thought to be his final year at Rovers. Only rarely did Rovers fans see flashes of the old Gavin Miller as the whole team struggled to maintain a mid table placing under the toll of injuries and loss of form to key players. Gavin was forced to watch powerless from the sidelines as Rovers suffered several heavy or embarrassing losses, none more so than the 18-14 loss at Doncaster in the John Player trophy. It was no coincidence that the return of Gavin at Christmas time resulted in an upturn in performances with several morale boosting wins coming on the back of much improved team work, at the fore of which was a certain Gavin Miller.

Unfortuantely it was with great sadness that Gavin bowed to injury and departed Rovers before the end of what was a hugely disappointing season for a team which had been one of the best in rugby league for the last 6 years. Although Rovers thought they had seen the last of Gavin Miller, this was not the case, as the final chapter in the Gavin Miller story at Rovers was still to be written.

After leaving Rovers in 1987 Gavin returned to the Cronulla club in Sydney, Australia and proceeded to lead them successfully and with a style Rovers fans were well accustomed to. Personal plaudits were tossed Gavins way as he showed his fellow Aussies just what England had found so special about this tough Aussie, leading ultimately to test selection and a starring role as Australia beat New Zealand to win the Rugby League World Cup in 1988.

As Rovers approached the 1988-89 season it was recognised that this would be a very hard season. A lack of star players and a disappointing 1987-88 season pointed to the fact that Rovers, with a team containing several young local players inexperienced at the top level, would struggle. In order to balance this Rovers announced the signing of David Bishop, the Welsh Rugby union 'bad boy'. Although this was a high profile signing, greeted positively by Rovers fans, it was the news that Gavin Miller would be returning for one last year with Rovers that enabled most Rovers fans to view the coming season more positively than had previously been the case.
Unfortunately, the fairytale return of Gavin Miller never really got off the ground, as injury after injury put paid to Rovers chances of a successful season. Despite valiant efforts by Miller who played in several positions as injuries took their toll, Rovers were unable to avoid relegation to Division Two. Bowing to the inevitable, Gavin left the club before the final games of the season, amid rumours of dressing room dissent and personality clashes between Miller and several Rovers players.

It is sad that such a great player ended his Rovers career with the ignomy of relegation, but those of us who saw Gavin play during the 1984-85 and 1985-86 seasons will remember what a great player he was and just what a vital part he was of that successful era. Even in the injury plagued season of 1986-87 when he only played 14 games, the presence of Gavin on the field made a great difference to Rovers performances.
Other players have played for Rovers longer, but few have had such an impact in a relatively short time, especially in Wembley year when Gavin Miller was a virtually unstoppable force. Few who witnessed him in his prime, tearing into opposing tacklers, slipping astute passes out of tackles, or embarking on a dummying, side-stepping charge, will forget Gavin Miller's name.

Article from "Greatest Players" section of the
Hull Kingston Rovers website.

To visit their great site, click on the icon

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As somebody who stood on the terraces at Craven Park during the golden era of Hull KR's history i was fortunate to see several brilliant players.

Roger Millward who guided the club to greatness.

Fantastic Kiwi's in the shape of Gary Prohm,Mark Broadhurst and Gordon Smith.

Home grown talent such as George Fairburn and the late great Clive Sullivan.

And local lads like Mike Smith,Phil Lowe,Len Casey etc.

But for my mind the best Rugby League player i have ever seen is Gavin Millar.

He wasnt blessed with great pace but because of his footballing brain and god given talent was one of the most elusive players.

His greatest game in my opionion for the Robins was in the Challenge Cup Semi Final against Leeds in 1986.

Leeds hit Rovers with 2 early tries and then Scrum Half Paul Harkin was sent off for a tripping offence.

I remember fixing my eyes on Gavin Millar,he rolled up his shirt sleeves and then with sheer briliance torn the Leeds defence apart putting Mike Smith in for 2 tries.

The game ended in a 24-24 Draw and The Robins won the replay 17-0.

As a teenager growing up in East Hull to me Gavin Millar was and always
wil be my hero.

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We sung out all day: watch Miller! Well, we watched him... and we watched him go. We couldn't handle the boy.

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Miller came up with an almost unbelievable 60 tackles -surely a world record.

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In an interview with Ian Heads in 1985, Miller said: "1983 on-field was one of my most enjoyable years. Off the field I probably overdid it.

"It was the biggest mistake of my life, getting involved in the financial situation at Cronulla. I feel there is no doubt that it had a detrimental effect on my career. And if I could turn the clock back now there's no way in the world I would get involved again.

"The number of broken promises that year was unbelievable. The club dudded us bad.

"The deal was that we would accept a minimum of 50 per cent of our money, and anything raised above that would be paid directly to the players.

"Putting together all the money accumulated, including $76,000 from the midweek competition, the players could have been paid up around 80 percent of their due money. We didn't see any of it.

"I got a letter that they're going to pay us another 15 per cent... but I haven't seen the colour of their money yet.

"I love Cronulla, and I was shattered when I was told I wasn't wanted there for 1984. I believe Terry Fearnley was behind that decision. I'm sure that he felt that he had created a monster... and there was no way he wanted me.

"It broke my heart when Terry came to me and said: 'There's no deal for 1984.' It hurt me more than anything that has happened in my career.

"I felt I had done so much to help keep the club together.

"I was sacked entirely for what happened off the field. I had played for the state... and got axed.

"Who wants a player that's going to create problems. Every time you picked up a paper that year it seemed you saw my head on the back under a headline like: 'Sharks players revolt'. It got boring. I was the silly idiot who accepted the position as spokesman for the contracted players.

"I gave the club a blast at the AGM... John Quayle was there and he was upset with me... I overdid it."

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Gavin Miller was undoubtedly one of the hardest men to play rugby league. He was not born with a nose like that – it had been hammered into shape over many matches by many people who professed to be hard men.

Gavin Miller was unknown in the UK until he was signed by Hull Kingston Rovers in the mid 80’s. I know, my father Brian Smelt, along with Roger Millward and Colin Hutton were responsible for signing (as was then) an unknown Aussie to play for a club who had high demands. My farther Brian Smelt had a request from Hull RK for a forward, the long and short of it – he and Gavin tied a deal that would see one of the best, most entertaining, hardest, grueling seasons for club and team alike.

Not the tallest, not the widest men on the pitch, but my god, one of the most feared rugby players. I remember seeing one match where an opponent ran away from Gavin in fear of the ferocious tackles he is renound for. Needless to say he caught is pray and delivered that legendary stiff shoulder (with arm wrapping around the body). Some like to call it a “swinging arm”. However the technique was to throw the arm out and hit hard with the shoulder, then wrap the arm around to complete the tackle. When hit by Miller – the opposition knew about it… after sever doses of smelling salts.

One of the greatest rugby players to have played for Hull KR. Not every liked or agreed with Gavin Miller, was happy with his approach or technique. But the same was said of Churchill – yet Churchill was responsible for guiding Britain to a successful victory in the Second World War. Miller guided Hull KR to one of their most successful periods in rugby league history, also under the guidance of Roger “magic” Millward, I might add.

If you want to see footage of absolute dedication to a sport/ team to win at all cost and to physically push the human body to extremes, I’d suggest sitting down to watch a match with Gavin Miller as loose foreward.

Off the pitch, as with most rugby league professionals, he was a gentlemen.

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For the Gavin Miller page.

I've never been a Cronulla supporter as such though I was an abosolute acolyte of two of their players: Rogers senior of course (true Rugby League Royalty, he of blessed memory), and Gavin Miller. 

I know this is supposed to be a website about hard men of the game and certainly Miller was no push over! But the fact is - as testifed above by others - Miller was a football brain, and that's how I remember him, one of the great thinkers and tacticians of League who also just happened to be able to tackle like a freight train. 

For me, Gavin was involved in one of the two moments in Rugby League that most expose the vacuity of those people who say that League is all braun and no brain.  These moments were:
1. when Drs. George Peponis and Nathan Gibbs shook hands on Redfern oval as captains of Canterbury and Souths; and 
2. A moment in the Cronulla-Parramatta 'demonstration' match in Perth (must have been the mid 80s when the ARL was trying to foster a team in Perth).  It happened quickly but quite distinctly and easily heard on replay. The ball is swung wide to Parrammatta's still dangerous Brett Kenny in space and over the microphone is the unmistakable rapid barking of Cronulla captain Gavin Miller to his defence "he's going to duck, he's going to duck, watch him! he's going to duck!" at which moment the submlime and totally unconcerned Kenny ducks his head and swerves through the defence as if imitating what Miller had predicted.  Miller's frustrated audible groan then comes over the microphone as if to say "I told you that is what he was going to do!". 

Such was Miller's genius.  He had a subtle intuitive understanding of the game - one we don't perhaps normally associate with someone with a nose like that - and a very nuanced tactical football brain.  Unfortunately, I haven't kept that tape - probably a victim of the obsolescence of the old VHF - and it was a frankly an otherwise unmemorable game.  But while we had the tape, my wife and I would regularly replay it becasue it revealed an intelligence that when expressed by those few great sportsmen using it, is usually inaudible. 

Obviously the moment showed off Kenny's virtuosity (always a delight to see) but the thing that was still more remarkable, was that - even though he couldn't get his troops to stop it happening - it was as if Miller could actually see into the future.

Best wishes
Greg Ellis

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The Borough Arms Pub Headon,small town justout side of east Hull.

Wednesday evening ,the pubs packed there is a local rock n roll band on called Joe Public,the singer is called Gary Pullen well known in Hull for his manic stage antics,well this guy is bouncing all over the place and its rockin>

The door opens and in walks Gavin Miller ,local Rugby league legend ,strides up to the bar ,and the bar maid ask him what he wants.

Just then there is al lull in the noise, and an aussie voice is heard shouting ,give me a pint of what that bastard singers drinking.

The place erupted in laughter.

Priceless ,some talent with a football as well.

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