Gene Miles

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Gene Miles
Personal information
Full name Gene Miles
Date of birth 1959
Place of birth Townsville, Queensland, Australia
Nickname(s) Geno
Senior clubs*
Years Club Apps (points)
 ?
1988-91
1991-92		 Wynnum-Manly
Brisbane
Wigan		  ?
71(20)
29(?)
Representative teams
1982-84,1986-89
1982-88		 Queensland
Australia		 20 (23)
14 (8)

* Professional club appearances and points
counted for domestic first grade only.

Gene Miles (born 1959 in Townsville, Queensland) is an Australian former rugby league player. He was able to off-load the ball on numerous occasions and was noted for his ability to pass the ball one-handed basketball style. Initially a centre, Miles was often used as a back row forward towards the end of his career.

A product of the city of Townsville in North Queensland, Miles joined Wynnum-Manly in the Brisbane Rugby League premiership in 1980 and was playing in the State of Origin the following year.

He was one of six Queensland-based players to tour with the 1982 Kangaroos (The invincibles) to Great Britain - the others were Wally Lewis, Rohan Hancock, Mark Murray, Rod Morris and Mal Meninga. Miles couldn't break into the Test team and played against club sides and in an international against Wales. He made his Test debut the following year.

He returned to the United Kingdom four years later with the 1986 Kangaroo Tour and participated in all six Test matches, against Papua New Guinea, Great Britain and France. After the home Test against New Zealand in 1987, and also winning the BRL's Rothmans Medal that year, Miles joined the Brisbane Broncos for their maiden season in 1988, playing in their first ever match. He later switched to the forwards and soon adapted to become one of the country’s finest second rowers, playing for Australia against the Rest of The World in 1988 at the Sydney Football Stadium.

He was chosen to tour New Zealand with the Australian squad in 1989 but was forced to pull out with a broken hand. The following year, he announced his retirement from representative football so he could concentrate on his job as captain of the fledgling Brisbane club, helping the Broncos to the play-offs for the first time in 1990.

After 72 first grade games for the Broncos, 14 Tests for Australia (including two Kangaroo tours) and 19 State of Origin matches for Queensland, Miles accepted a contract offer from Wigan, making his debut in October 1991 against Featherstone Rovers. Miles played 29 matches for Wigan as they won a treble of Championship, Challenge Cup and Premiership. Whilst at Wigan, Miles formed a formidable partnership with winger Martin Offiah.

Miles returned to Australia to pursue a media career with Channel Nine and in 2000, was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for his contribution to Australia's international standing in the sport of rugby league. In 2001 Miles was appointed Chairman of Selectors for the Queensland State of Origin. He is also the Executive Director of the non-profit organisation Former Origin Greats (FOGS).

In February 2008, Miles was named in the list of Australia's 100 Greatest Players (1908-2007) which was commissioned by the NRL and ARL to celebrate the code's centenary year in Australia.[1][2]

[edit] External links

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ Peter Cassidy. "Controversy reigns as NRL releases top 100 players", Macquarie National News, 2008-02-23. Retrieved on 2008-02-23. 
  2. ^ Centenary of Rugby League - The Players. NRL & ARL (2008-02-23). Retrieved on 2008-02-23.