Gene Miles: Big Geno!

Sean Fagan of RL1908.com

While many of his colleagues of the 80's have gained high media profiles and always seem to feature in reviews of the era, the one man that they all choose as the best is rarely mentioned - Gene Miles.

Not that 'Big Geno' didn't have a colourful and successful enough career, it just seems that once he had played his final rugby league game no one seemed to talk about him (apart from mentioning that Tooheys TV ad!).

Miles' first foray into football began as a rugby union player, the highlight being selection for an Under 19's Country team which played Brisbane in 1977 at Ballymore. On the field that day were some other unknowns including Paul McCabe, Paul Vautin and Wally Lewis (Brisbane) and Colin Scott and Greg Dowling (Country).

By 1979 Miles was representing Townsville in rugby league in the Foley Shield competition where he scored a try in the Final against Mt. lsa. He subsequently signed with the Brisbane Easts club for the 1980 Brisbane club competition. However, a dispute arose and Miles remained in Townsville where he played for Souths.

Unfortunately, Miles ended the 1980 season being sent-off in a fiery semi-final loss. But his talent was still obvious and by November he had signed with Wynnum-Manly for the next Brisbane season.

In the first game of 1981 Wynnum ran into a hot Souths side and were walloped 32-8. Souths were inspired by a strongly built centre named Mal Meninga, although the critics noted that the young Miles appeared to have some talent. Within weeks Miles starred as Wynnum outplayed Valleys 22-11 (despite the efforts of Wally Lewis) and he was subsequently selected as a reserve for the Brisbane side that met Newtown in the Tooth Cup. By June he was on the bench for the Queensland team against NSW, but was forced to make way for Sydney based 'Maroons' for that year's State of Origin game. His first season had seen his impressive rise continue.

For Miles 1982 would be a stand-out year - although having Meninga and Chris Close as the incumbent representative centres didn't make it easy. Miles was again a reserve as Brisbane met Balmain in the KB Cup in April, but by the second Origin game of 1982 he had forced his way into the run-on side. At season's end his club side won the Brisbane Grand Final over Souths (who included Meninga & Gary Belcher) and Miles was selected as a member of the 1982 Kangaroos to Great Britain. Miles couldn't break into the Test team and played against club sides and in an international against Wales. In barely two seasons Miles had gone from Townsville to Kangaroo.

Again in 1983 Miles represented Brisbane in the KB Cup and Queensland in the Origin games. His hard running style and trade-mark "basketball" passes had emerged to a point where his form was so good that the Test selectors could ignore him no longer. Miles was chosen to make his Test debut in the Australian side to play New Zealand at Lang Park. The 1983 season ended with Queensland touring England with the highlights being wins over Wigan (40-2) at Central Park and Leeds (58-2) at Headingley.

In April of 1984 Miles played for Oceania (led by Wally Lewis) who defeated Europe (made up from England, France & Wales) in Paris. For 1984 Miles was a Test regular, playing in all matches against the touring British Lions who included rising stars Ellery Hanley and Garry Schofield. Brisbane and Miles also enjoyed success in the Panasonic Cup downing Sydney's Easts 12-11 in the Final in August. The year ended the best way possible for Miles with Wynnum (along with team-mates Lewis, Greg Dowling & Brett French) thrashing Souths 42-8 in the Brisbane Grand Final. 'Geno's' form was so good through 1984 that Mal Meninga openly stated that Miles was easily the world's No.1 centre.

For Miles the success of 1984 was not to be repeated in 1985 as he suffered a shocking knee injury in a trial game in February. The fact that he was able to get back on the field at all in 1985 was an achievement in itself, but come semi-final time there he was starring again as Wynnum made it to the Brisbane Grand Final.

With 1986 being a Kangaroo tour year Miles set out slowly with no great expectations due to the time off he had endured as a result of his knee injury. But by mid season Miles was back to his best with a sensational display in the Final of the Winfield State League as Wynnum thrashed Redcliffe 46-10 at Lang Park. Miles made his return to Origin football with such impact that the Australian selectors immediately reinstated him for the Tests against New Zealand. Together with Brett Kenny he formed a classic centre pairing that saw them both onto successful Tests against New Zealand and later that year on the Kangaroo tour (against Papua New Guinea, Great Britain & France).

Miles played so well against Great Britain that English great Alex Murphy claimed the Queenslander was the best centre in world rugby league at that time. At the same time Mal Meninga was struggling to hold his position as a reserve for the Test side. On the club scene Wynnum again won the Brisbane title with the most notable event being in August during an ABC-TV televised game against Redcliffe 'Geno' and Jim Cowell went toe-to-toe only metres away from the main TV cameras. Referee David Manson sent Cowell to the sin-bin while Miles stayed on and ended up setting up the match winning try.

1987 began with talk of a Brisbane team being fielded in the Winfield Cup for 1988. Throughout his career Miles had been targeted by the Sydney clubs including Parramatta, Easts, Wests, Manly and St.George at various times, but on each occassion his loyalty to Queensland rugby league held firm - it now appeared likely that his chance to test himself in the world's toughest rugby league competition would come without even having to leave home.

While the hype over Brisbane's entry grew, Miles played his final Test match (against New Zealand) and saw through an increasing number of games in the second row. Miles finished the year as the winner of the Brisbane Rothman's Medal as the best and fairest player.

Brisbane had their moments in their first years in the Winfield Cup (including winning the 1989 Panasonic Cup over an Andy Gregory inspired lllawarra) but couldn't reach the end of year playoffs. Meanwhile Miles made the second row his permanent position and was so successful in 1988 for him to gain selection for the Australia V Rest of-the-World game at the Sydney Football Stadium. Miles' form held well and in 1989 he was picked for the Australian tour of New Zealand but suffered a broken hand prior to the team leaving and was replaced.

Miles' priorities then moved totally to the Broncos for 1990 with his announcement that he would no longer be available for representative football due to his appointment as Brisbane captain. His decision was vindicated when Brisbane made the semi-finals for the first time later that year and he won the Dally M award for "Captain of the Year'. Unfortunately, the preceding semi-final win over Manly was marred by the constant replaying of a Miles tackle on Ian Roberts on the SFS video-screen. The tackle left the Sea Eagles prop concussed and with a serious groin injury and out of the Kangaroo tour.

The crowds response of boos and jeers for Miles was indicative of the Broncos' and Miles' popularity in Sydney and the public repeated it at the Dally M Awards when Miles collected his award - the booing brought about the public's exclusion from the presentations for the next decade.

Meanwhile Brisbane's Grand Final charge ended with a crushing loss to Canberra 32-4 in the preliminary Final. It was made even harder to take for the Queenslanders as the Raiders best players were 'Maroon' stars Belcher and Meninga who enacted revenge on Miles for their for 1982 Brisbane Grand Final loss.

In 1991 the Broncos again failed to make the semis and Miles announced he was leaving to play out his career in England with Wigan. Miles played his last game for Brisbane at Lang Park in August 1991 against Wests. Fittingly Miles played a strong game from the centres as Brisbane beat the Magpies 28-14.

Miles was a stand-out at Wigan and he played in their Challenge Cup success which included a record 71-10 semi-final win over Bradford Northern and their Wembley Final victory against Castleford. Another highlight was Wigan's triumph at the World Sevens over Brisbane early in 1992 at the SFS. The photographs which appeared in the Brisbane press the following day featured Andy Gregory, Shaun Edwards, Phil Clark and Martin Offiah together with Gene Miles all wearing Bronco's jerseys! This had more than a touch of irony as 'Big Geno' had helped to deny the Queenslanders their first SFS glory. Wigan and Miles went back to England and completed their domination by winning the League Championship with two weeks to spare.

Miles enjoyed the English competition and let it be known he wanted to play another season at Wigan but unfortunately no offer came forth (Wigan claimed financial constraints). The Wigan faithful rated Miles as one of the best centres to have ever played for the club and pushed hard for his return. They were disappointed when Wigan confirmed its decision by signing Andrew Farrer.

Miles subsequently announced he was extremely unlikely to play rugby league again and that he "would start looking for a real job" - ultimately becoming a dry cleaner business operator in Brisbane. Apart from appearing in the occasional legends game, he has also been a State of Origin selector for Queensland.