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Stats-

47 international appearances together with 20 tries.
406 Hull KR appearances, 207 tries, 600+ goals and a total of 1825 points.

Rogers total of 207 tries for the Robins is a club record.
Roger performed the hat-trick with Rovers on eleven occasions, once for Castleford and twice for Britain on the 1970 tour.
Roger twice kicked ten goals or more in a match, both in 1972/73. His best tally was eleven goals in a 58-5 defeat of Hunslet in August, 1972. In the same match he scored three tries for a personal best of 31 points.

Cup heroes: Roger Millward re 1980 Challenge cup, victory and playing with a broken jaw

"It was every schoolboy's dream to play at Wembley in a Cup final and I thought my chance had gone" Roger Millward

To Roger Millward, the phrase "no pain, no gain" has special meaning.


The 1980 Challenge Cup final was just 15 minutes old when he broke his jaw.

Lesser men would have sought the safety of the changing room, but not Millward.

The Hull KR legend cleared his head and threw himself into the tackle just as enthusiastically as he always had.

His bravery brought its rewards: victory over city rivals Hull and a much-cherished winners' medal.

"As soon as I was tackled I knew the jaw was broken," he tells BBC Sport.



"The bone was out of place and I could feel it wasn't right. "Fortunately, a few seconds later, I went in to tackle Hull's Steve Norton and my jaw caught his knee.

"The impact caused my jaw to click back in place and I was able to carry on playing.

"My half-back partner, Allan Agar, did a great job for the next 20 minutes while I was recovering."

For Robins fans, victory over Hull in the 1980 final was especially sweet.

But for Millward, it was just a relief to be playing at Wembley.

"It was every schoolboy's dream to play at Wembley in a Cup final and I thought my chance had gone," he says.

"To play against Hull was even more special and quite a unique event.

"It provided for a terrific atmosphere during the week leading up to the match.

"I think I enjoyed the build-up as much as the game itself, but the atmosphere at Wembley was unbelievable, especially before kick-off.

"I went out for a walk on my own on the pitch about 90 minutes before the game was due to begin.

"Even though there were only about 30,000 spectators in the stadium, the hairs on the back of my head were standing up, such was the intensity of the atmosphere.

"As captain, I was the one who had to go back to the dressing room and steady the rest of the team.

"I was the one who had to keep calm and appear in total control, but I was so nervous I could hardly speak myself."

"I had the jaw wired up and intended to carry on, but I broke it again in an A-team match" Roger Millward

Millward's words of wisdom obviously had the desired effect.

Hull KR won the match 10-5 in front of a crowd of 95,000.

"We had a tremendous pack, with some very experienced forwards in Phil Lowe, Brian Lockwood and Len Casey," recalls Millward. "They set up the platform for our win."

The Challenge Cup final proved to be Millward's last.

"I had the jaw wired up and intended to carry on, but I broke it again in an A-team match," he recalls.

"That was the end but at least I got a winners' medal."

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I had the pleasure of meeting Rodger the Dodger in our Hotel on the night of the First Test Match of the 1990 Tour. The Poms had beaten us at Wembley and they were all on a high. First test and one up and all.

I was part of the brilliant RugbyLeague Week Supporters Tour and we were booked into a very classy Hotel to the side of Buckingham Palace in London. It was right opposite where the Queen parks all her stagecoaches.

As was the practice over there, if patrons of the Hotel were still drinking then the Bar remained open. I happend to wander into the Hotels bar late in the evening and slightly merry. I was in the process of trying to drown the taste of defeat from my mouth.

As I was talking to a small group of fellow tourists I noticed that Sir Roger was at the Bar also.

I politely introduced myself to Roger and congratulated him on the "bloody Poms" winning the test. I told him that I was an old Shark supporter and his eyes lit up. He asked me about the Shire, and was sincerely upset that the transfer ban had stopped him from finishing his career in Australia and with the Sharks. We had a great conversation about the Shark days and as he was talking to me he introduced me to another gentleman, whom he said captained the Lions in "ex" year. My apologies for not remembering the gentlemans name, then he pointed two elderly gentlemen sitting down at a table near us. He animately gestured to these two "old" guys to get up and get over here, indicating the bar where both I and the other ex captain where. Roger then introduced me to these other two older gentlemen. Both were ex Great Britain Captains. (Sorry I can't remember their names but they were great old gentleman) So here was I with four Great Britain Captains sharing their stories and enjoying their company. I thought if this is early in the tour then I am in rugby league hevan.

A FOOTNOTE HERE: Another person who was in Rogers company was a gentleman whose name I believe to be Jack Thurgood, he was the chairman of the Club Roger was coaching...... we were involved in some indepth conversation about league, and me being the experienced front rower from the Emu Park Reserve Grade side in the 2nd Division in Central Queensland I offered my services to his club the following year. He told me without hesitation, that there was two reasons why I wont be playing at his club the next season, One, "Yur toooo foookinn old" and Two, "We don't foookinnn want you". Handling rejection as I usually do, we both had a good laugh and another pint.......

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I was a Hull Kingston Rovers fan as a boy but fell out with Rovers and Rugby in general for a number of years and it was watching Saints on Sky that got me back into the game around 1999.

I grew up opposite the Zetland Arms where my mum worked as a barmaid for 25 years which was owned and ran by Colin Hutton, the ex Rovers, Great Britain Coach, Manager and Chariman etc.

I had the pleasure of growing up with a whole host of stars living and visiting the pub across the road from me.

I played dominos with Gavin Miller, got my arse kicked by Roger Millward (several times), played in my back garden with John Dorahays kids, and looked on in awe when the New Zealand tour bus pulled up outside my
house to go to a function in there and waited for Clayton Friend to get off the bog for his autograph.

One of the best memories I have is the "hardman" of the era - Mark Broadhurst - still on the pitch 30 mins after the game signing autographs for fans.

It just goes to show that some of these hardmen are true gentlemen and soft as shite on the inside.

Next time I'm in my loft I'll try and dig some photos etc out that I think I have somewhere.

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Nice story about you meeting Roger Millward in 1990 whilst over here for the test.(See Quigs entry No1 above) The blokes a legend in East Hull where he was connected with Hull Kingston Rovers (my team) for 20+ years.

He led us as captain and coach to three championships, a wembley victory against our rivals from the other side of the river, and countless other final wins in the John Player, Premiership and County Cups.

I had the honour of being in his presence a few weeks ago when he came back to Rovers for an evening of stories and events from his playing days.

The place was sold out ,this a sign of how people in East Hull still respect the man.

He was presented with a framed picture of him playing for the Sharks and also one of him playing for Hull KR.

Its good to know that the man is respected and remembered on both sides of the globe and I can only say that I´m glad he finished his playing days with Rovers and not the Sharks as he was The Greatest ever to pull on the red and white shirt of Hull Kingston Rovers.

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While helping-out at the old Craven Park in the early seventies as a twelve year-old, I bumped into Roger in the ground before the game.

He was without doubt my favourite player at the time, and as a kid, I was astonished to find that he wasn't much bigger than me in stature, yet he could play like he did.

He didn't say very much except 'hello', but it certainly made me think that size isn't everything!

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Roger has an MBE not a knighthood.

He made his name playing seven a side league which was screened on the telly.

He signed for his home team of Castleford but found it difficult to break into the first team because Cas had three top halfbacks in Derek Edwards, Alan Hardisty and Keith Hepworth.

He signed for Hull Kingston Rovers and stayed with them until he retired. He then coached them for many years.

He toured in 1970 with the other three halfbacks mentioned although Derek Edwards was playing full back at that stage.

(from quigs - steve I've corrected my mistake but if the Queen knew anything about league, then, Rog the Dodger should be knighted)

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From Quigs ------ this is an email sent to me from Steve in New Zealand......"Thanks mate".

Quigs

Nay Lad, Roger never played for the Saints. He only ever played for two clubs. He was spotted playing seven a side league and signed up for Castleford his home town. He was an apprentice electrician at a nearby coalpit. Although he was a top player and actually played for GB in 1966 he couldn't hold a full time place in the Castleford team. They had the current GB stand off and 66 tourist Alan Hardisty and his friend Keith Hepworth as scrum half. Plus another very talented half back in Derek Edwards, a real over supply of riches in the half back department. He had made his debut in 1963 against Dewsbury.

So reluctantly Roger was sold to Hull Kingston Rovers in 1966. He played until 1980 for them and then took over as coach. His career really ended at Wembly 1980 when he had his jaw broken by Ron Wyleman in the final against Hull FC. It was the third break over the years. He played 406 games for Hull KR, scored 207 tries, kicked 597 goals and 10 drop goals for 1825 points.

He beat Frank Mylers try scoring record for a stand off in the 67-68 season with 38 tries. Fellow international Alan Burwell was over the try line when he passed to Roger to break the record, a moment few who saw it will forget. He scored 20 points in the second test of the 1970 series at the Sydney cricket ground with 2 tries and 7 goals to equal the record set by Lewis Jones as GB won 28-7.

He was awarded the MBE some time later. He toured Australia/NZ in 1968 for the World cup, 1970, 1974, 1975 for England in the world cup, 1978 for GB in the world cup and 1979 when he didn't play many games before he was sent home injured. He captained GB in the home series against the Kiwi's in 1971 unfortunately the Kiwi's won the first two tests narrowly and became the first Kiwi team to beat GB in the Uk. To my knowledge he never captained them again. He played scrum half, stand off, center and wing for GB.

The Hull KR club have just had a night with Roger as guest.

He was certainly a great player with much natural talent. He had a storming game for Hull KR in 1967 when they beat the touring Australian side (second team players mostly) 27-15. I sent the program for that game to be auctioned for the club last year. Joe McDonald scored a hat trick for the Aussie's, Les Johns was full back.

Steve in NZ

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Roger Millward

Position: Half Back.

Time at HKR: Player: 1966-81 Coach: 1977-91.

Previous Clubs: Castleford, Cronulla.

What can be said about Roger that hasn't already been said? There is no question that Roger is easily the best player to pull on the famous red and white Hull Kingston Rovers shirt and possibly the best player to ever wear the Great Britain shirt.

Not only has he been the most successful Rovers player but also the most successful coach in the history of
the club.

Roger first came to prominence when his brilliant, unorthodox playing style (which, would in years to come, earn him the nickname of "Roger the Dodger" by the late TV commentator Eddie Waring) was a feature of a series of televised under 17 international matches where Roger made a number of appearances in both half-back positions and on the wing.

Roger signed professional for Castleford in September 1964, and made his first team debut at Dewsbury on October 3rd the same year.

Unable to command a regular first team place because of Castleford's experienced test half backs, Alan Hardisty and Keith Hepworth, he still came to the attention of the International Selectors before being transferred to
Hull Kingston Rovers on August 8th, 1966 when he was only 18 years old for the sum of £6,000.

He made his debut for the Robins at Hunslet on August 15th, the first of over 400 appearances for the club.
Roger had already established himself on the International stage becoming one of the youngest ever players to make his full Great Britain debut in March 1966 against France and then in the early stages of his career with Rovers, he became one of Rovers youngest international players when he was named in the 1968 GB World Cup Squad after finishing the season as top try scorer with 38 tries, he also picked up the Supporters "Player of the Year" award for his achievements during the season.

Roger had already earned his first major domestic honour when he picked up a Floodlit Trophy winners medal with Castleford in 1965/66. In his first year at Rovers he picked up a Yorkshire Cup winners medal and the following year helped Rovers retain the cup, the first of many honours both as player and coach with Rovers.

In 1969 Roger was appointed club captain at the age of only 21 and in the same year he was named as the Hull KR supporters "Player of the Year" and more importantly the overall Rugby League Players No 6 "Player of
the Year".

Whilst at Craven Park, Rogers international career flourished, he was already a recognised Great Britain player by the age of 22 and went on to make 47 appearances including 29 Tests for Great Britain. Roger
toured with Great Britain five times and once with England and captained both sides in World Cup Competitions.

During the mid-1970's, Roger helped to turn Hull KR into a force to be reckoned with in the world of Rugby League but still the major honours eluded him, as Rovers only managed to pick up a further two Yorkshire
Cup winners medals in 1971/72 and 1974/75 and a runners-up medal in 1975/76.

During this time Roger picked up a further two Supporters "Player of the Year" awards in 1974/75 and 1975/76, his testimonial year with the club in which he broke the clubs all time try scoring record with 160 tries.

During the close season of 1976 he had a spell down under with Australian club Cronulla.

Millward brought his wealth of experience to the Sharks, which was the fourth of six visits he made to Australia during the 1970's. Cronulla under the coaching of John Raper in 1976 were struggling for class players and they secured Millward. He played in 14 games for the Cronulla Sharks, scoring one try and kicking 17 goals for 37 points.

In 1977 a new revolution started for both Roger and Rovers. After the unfortunate death of Rovers coach Harry Poole, Roger was named Hull Kingston Rovers' player-coach and in his first season guided the club to their first ever BBC2 Floodlit Trophy victory and, yet again was named as the Supporters "Player of the Year". The Floodlit trophy proved to be the turning point for Rovers as they went from being the best to proving they where the best by winning every major honour in the game of Rugby League.

In 1978/79 Roger guided Rovers to their first Division One Championship since 1925 and the following year he achieved his ambition by playing in the Challenge Cup Final at Wembley becoming the first Rovers player to coach and captain a Rovers side to a Challenge Cup victory as Rovers beat Hull 10-5.

Roger broke his jaw midway through the first half but played on for the full 80 minutes and still managed a smile when he took the trophy from Her Majesty thee Queen Mother.

Roger Millwards long and illustrious playing career ended with an off-the-ball incident whilst playing for Rovers' A team against Batley A on October 4th, 1980. The incident left Roger with a broken jaw at the hands of someone who wasn't even fit to tie his boot laces.

This was Rogers fourth broken jaw in the space of ten months. The game was his come-back after having his jaw broken by Hull hooker Ron Wileman, who crashed into him with a late, high tackle, in th Challenge Cup Final earlier in the same year.

Ironically, after years of striving to achieve his ambition of playing in a Challenge Cup Final at Wembley, it was to be his last senior game.

By the end his career Roger had gained 47 international appearances together with 20 tries. 406 Hull KR appearances, 207 tries, 600+ goals and a total of 1825 points making him the third highest points scorer in
Rovers history.

Rogers total of 207 tries for the Robins is a club record, beating the previous best by Gilbert Austin, a winger in the 1920's, by almost 50. Never scoring more than three tries in a match, Roger performed the hat-trick with Rovers on eleven occasions, once for Castleford and twice for Britain on the 1970 tour. Roger twice kicked ten goals or more in a match, both in 1972/73. His best tally was eleven goals in a 58-5 defeat of Hunslet in August, 1972. In the same match he scored three tries for a personal best of 31 points.

After acieving nearly every major honour as a player, Roger continued as coach of Hull Kingston Rovers throughout the 1980's and early 1990's as they dominated the English game upto the mid 1980's.

In 1980/81 he took Rovers back to Wembley for the Challenge Cup Final as they went all the way to try and regain the Trophy but just failed at the final hurdle, Rovers also lost in the final of the Yorkshire Cup that season but it wasn't all doom and gloom as Millward guided Rovers to their Premiership Trophy.

In the next two years Roger couldn't inspire Rovers to a trophy but yet again he took them all the way to the final of the John Player Trophy and guided them to the runners-up spot in Division One, Millward did
pick up an medal himself though when he was named in the Queens new year honours list and Roger received the M.B.E. for his services to Rugby League and sport in Great Britain.

After building up a strong squad throughout the early 80's Roger's leadership shone through in 1983/84 as Rovers proved they where the best in the business by becoming the first team to win the League Championship - Premiership double as Rovers where crowned "Rugby League Team of the Year".

Then the following season they nearly did again. After winning the John Player Trophy for the first time and then becoming Division One Champions for the fifth time only the Premiership remained but it wasn't to be as Rovers lost in the final, earlier in the season Rovers had also lost in the Yorkshire Cup Final.

The 1985/86 season saw Rogers last major final as a Rovers manager.

Millward took Rovers to a victory in the Yorkshire Cup final before they where defeated in the John Player Final and the Challenge Cup Final at Wembley, that proved to be Rovers last major final as the team that had dominated the English game faded away, Roger stood loyal with Rovers as the club from Division to Division but after the club was relegated to the 2nd Division Roger decided it was the right time to bring to an end his 25 year association with the club.

Never before and probably never again has their been a player or a coach that has had such an immense talent as Roger and stayed loyal to a club for as long as he did.

When asked about his most memorable match it was not surprising that Roger had more than one. His first not surprisingly was the 1980 Challenge Cup Final victory against Hull FC.

The second was the match against the Australian touring side of 1967 where Roger, at only 20 years of age
scored a great hat-trick as Rovers beat the tourists 27-15.

Roger Millward now lives in Kippax near Leeds, with his wife Carol and is employed as a Premises Manager by Royds Comprehensive School, above Rothwell Sports Centre. At present he has severed his involvement with the game of rugby but he still attends matches, mainly Castleford Tigers.

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Roger is living in Kippax near Leeds and works at Royds School in Leeds.

I also worked there until I retired in 2001 and frequently used assembly time,lessons and other times to inform the kids about the great man who was working in their midst.

I would like to think that this helped give many youngsters an insight into the hard man who, in spite of his small stature, could give the Aussies a belting.

Something we Pommies sadly lack today.

I took a photograph of a group of young rugby players with Roger.

Not only were they thrilled by this but they commented that the great man had actually thanked them for being there.

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I have to correct what you said about Roger's
knighthood, quigs .

If the Queen had known anything about Rugby League, she'd have ditched Phil the Greek and made Roger King!

Roger recently contacted the Junior Robins (Rovers' U16 supporters) to accept our invitation to a party (at Craven Park, 30th April 2005) for the kids to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Rovers' Wembley win over Hull FC

It's all a part of our plan to educate our youngsters that there's more to Rugby League than just the TV image they see.

We want them to know all about the history and legends of the game and to feel part of it.

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Great night, fantastic memories of real rugby league and of a true rugby league hero



From Graham Handford of Hull......
A fantastic picture of 'Sir' Roger Millward.
It was taken on the night of the anniversary of Hull KR's Wembley win against the old enemy ,Hull FC.

(It was 25 years ago but we've still got the bragging rights!)

Roger was guest of honour and we asked him to be the President of the Junior Robins (Hull KRs 0-16 supporters group) and he agreed.

Roger said he was both surprised and humbled by the turnout (250) and he said he couldn't believe he was still so well thought of and the fact that the kids (who had never seen him play) could be so excited, having their photos taken with him.

Roger spent the entire night having his photo taken, signing autographs and chatting to the kids.

We had an auction that raised over £800, mostly cos everything was signed by Roger - we'd have made about fifty quid otherwise! I even auctioned a meat pie he'd signed!


The great Anniversery Cake........"what a beauty"

(Thanks Graham ......Roger is a great bloke, no arguments this side of the world either...Quigs)

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I would sell my home if I knew that it would keep him with us next year.

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I had the great pleasure of being on the last real tour of Australia in 1992 and Roger Millward was one of the ex-GB stars on our trip. For someone who is really a legend in this game he was and is a true gentleman, he had all the time in the world for anyone and everyone. We had 3 other ex-players on the tour one of them being Peter Fox who too was a great fella to talk to if you could get a word in. But the other two wouldn't give you the time of day.

Roger told me about his time at Hull KR and players he had signed for his new club Halifax for the following season and we generally had a chat every other day, no airs and graces just a great bloke.

I was too young to remember him at his peak and I can just about remember him winning at Wembley in 1980 but I understand why he is held in such awe on and off the field....

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I watched Roger Millward play for many years. I was a youngster growing up in NZ and he was a great player for his size.

I always wondered why he left Cronulla.

I would dearly love to see a player of his abilities in an English team these days.

Quigs here.... Millward was forced to leave Cronulla at the end of 1976, and was a victim of the transfer bans that were imposed then. Roger told me personally in 1990 that he really enjoyed his stint with the Sharks and would of come back to australia and continued playing..

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In 1963, the 1st test was a night game at Wembley and Gasnier was at his imperious best. He's still the greatest centre I've seen. He never looked as though he was moving, but nobody could get near him. He had class to burn. Then we had the 50 - 12 game at Swinton. The die was cast and I think it gave Australian players the self belief to upset history. Since then of course we've only won one test series (1970), but I believe it was won on the back of my favourite all time player Malcom Reilly; and Roger Millward. They were the difference on that Tour. Many of the series around that time were close and different players stood just above to make the difference. I believe that in 67 it was a John Raper / Ron Coote combination as the game breakers. The test when they won in the snow typified the Australian never-say-die spirit.

In 73 Artie was head and shoulders above the rest.

In 74 it was Ron Coote's famous tackle on Steve Nash that broke our resolve.

In 78 we would have won that series but for the half back combo of Tom R and Bobby Fulton. Fulton was the finest captain of a touring team that I've seen and he lead from the front. Most of the players were young and inexperienced and making their first Tours, but players like Rod Reddy and Craig Young came up trumps. It was also the best test debut I have seen in the decider at Headingley. Les Boyd tortured us for an hour and came off injured, but by then the game and the series were run.

Apart from 1990 when we was within a minute of squaring the series, but for Ricky Stuart's breakout and Big Mal Meninga; since then we've been an embarrassment since 1978. But then we don't have players of the calibre of Reilly, Huddart, McTigue, Millward, Ashton, Murphy, Mick Sullivan.

Personally, I deride the modern game. The scrums are a joke and the 10 metre rule has killed off the great ball playing backs like Murphy and Millward in the British game. Same in the forwards. In those days you had to have the skills to break defences, because they were stood on top of you. Artie was the best ball playing forward I've seen and McTigue wasn't far behind.

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Tom Raudonikis was a great player and as tough as they come. The person got it wrong regarding Tommy in the 2nd test in 78 at Bradford. Jim Mills nutted Rod Reddy and accused him of biting. I don't think Jim could reach down that far.

What I do remember is the blue that Tommy and Steve Nash had at a scrum in the same series. If my memory serves me they both got sent off.

The only time I can remember Roger Millward getting sent off was when playing against Australia; not a test match. Again, I think it was the same year. However, Roger was really pee'd off because he said Tommy laid in to him and he was just trying to get away from all the blows raining down on him.

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