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.
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