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Michael Neil

  • Playing Career

Playing Career

All information provided below is based only on data available in the RLP database and should be used as a guide only.

Vital Statistics

Born
Wednesday, 29th April, 1964
Current Age
62 years and 46 days

Known Family Links

Brother
Craig Neil
Alan Neil

Competitions Won

Midweek Cup
1987
Challenge Cup AU
1992

Biography

Wests junior, a wiry competitor at five-eighth or half, made up for his lack of pace with a never-say-die attitude. Neil played in consecutive grand final losses with the Tigers but almost snatched victory in 1989 when he was ankle-tapped by Mal Meninga when he looked set to score. Neil’s career looked to be in decline when he switched to the Steelers but his whole-hearted efforts saw him snare a first grade position just prior to the club’s entry into the semi-finals. Neil's big-match experience held the club in good stead during the 1992 semi-final series but he then left the club to play a season with Salford in England. He ended his career with the Tigers during the club's wooden spoon season in 1994.
- ALAN WHITICKER

Playing Career Statistics

To view a list of corresponding matches, click on the List button.
Representative Career - International   Comp Wins Starts Int APP ST PT T G1FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
Tour Matches Illawarra SteelersILL - 1 - 1 --- - - - - - - - - 1 - 0.00% List
Club Career - Australia   Comp Wins Starts Int APP ST PT T G1FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
NSWRFL/NSWRL (NRL Premiership) - 152 16 168 26-26 - - - 104 1 2 - 81 82 5 48.21% List
NRL Finals - 11 - 11 --- - - - - - - - 6 5 - 54.55% List
Midweek Cup 1 9 1 10 2-2 - - - 8 - - - 7 3 - 70.00% List
Challenge Cup AU 1 6 - 6 --- - - - - - - - 4 2 - 66.67% List
Club Career - UK   Comp Wins Starts Int APP ST PT T G1FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
English Championship - 8 1 9 1-1 - - - 4 - - - 2 7 - 22.22% List
UK Top Division - 8 1 9 1-1 - - - 4 - - - 2 7 - 22.22% List
Overall   Starts Int APP ST PT T G1FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
First Class  170 18 188 29-29 - - - 116 1 2 - 90 93 5 47.87% List

NSWRFL/NSWRL (NRL Premiership) - By Year

Team Season   Starts Int APP ST PT T G1FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
Western SuburbsWestern Suburbs 19831983 NSWRFL Winfield Cup   4 1 51-1 - - - 4 - - - 1 3 1 20.00% List
Western SuburbsWestern Suburbs 19841984 NSWRL Winfield Cup   12 1 131-1 - - - 4 - - - - 13 - 0.00% List
Western SuburbsWestern Suburbs 19851985 NSWRL Winfield Cup   20 - 203-3 - - - 12 - 1 - 4 14 2 20.00% List
Western SuburbsWestern Suburbs 19861986 NSWRL Winfield Cup   10 - 102-2 - - - 8 - - - 3 6 1 30.00% List
BalmainBalmain 19871987 NSWRL Winfield Cup   14 1 152-2 - - - 8 - - - 9 6 - 60.00% List
BalmainBalmain 19881988 NSWRL Winfield Cup   22 2 243-3 - - - 12 - - - 17 7 - 70.83% List
BalmainBalmain 19891989 NSWRL Winfield Cup   23 - 234-4 - - - 16 1 - - 16 6 1 69.57% List
BalmainBalmain 19901990 NSWRL Winfield Cup   18 - 187-7 - - - 28 - - - 14 4 - 77.78% List
BalmainBalmain 19911991 NSWRL Winfield Cup   2 3 51-1 - - - 4 - - - 2 3 - 40.00% List
IllawarraIllawarra 19921992 NSWRL Winfield Cup   6 6 12--- - - - - - - - 6 6 - 50.00% List
IllawarraIllawarra 19931993 NSWRL Winfield Cup   9 2 112-2 - - - 8 - - - 7 4 - 63.64% List
BalmainBalmain 19941994 NSWRL Winfield Cup   12 - 12--- - - - - - 1 - 2 10 - 16.67% List

NSWRFL/NSWRL (NRL Premiership) - By Team

Team Years   Starts Int APP ST PT T G1FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
Western Suburbs 1983-86   46 2 48 7-7 - - - 28 - 1 - 8 36 4 16.67% List
Balmain 1987-91, 1994   91 6 97 17-17 - - - 68 1 1 - 60 36 1 61.86% List
Illawarra 1992-93   15 8 23 2-2 - - - 8 - - - 13 10 - 56.52% List

English Career - By Year

Team Season   Starts Int APP ST PT T G1FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
SalfordSalford 1993/94   8 1 91-1 - - - 4 - - - 2 7 - 22.22% List

English Career - By Team

Team Years   Starts Int APP ST PT T G1FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
Salford 1993   8 1 9 1-1 - - - 4 - - - 2 7 - 22.22% List

Your Say

  • graham parker
    13 Jan 2012 6:32pm

    a very good player in his day, with a professional attitude, who always gave 100%, and also one of the nicest blokes you will ever meet.

  • Anonymous
    16 Apr 2014 8:17pm

    Michael Neil was a very elusive and durable footballer on the field.He is now very elusive walking down the street,due to his jet black hair.Yeah Yeah

  • Dean Felber
    21 Nov 2015 6:46pm

    the best boot lace defensive player I have ever seen.unlucky not to win a premiership 88 89 for Balmain.any young Wests tiger trying to improve there game take a leaf out of Micky Niels book the man is a legend who often gets left behind bye the bigger names but without players that like that Balmain tigers may not have ever made two grand finals back to back.

  • Anonymous
    14 Sep 2018 8:29pm

    Loved watching this guy player, no more than 75kg soaking wet, but played well above that. stood offside and tackled anything that moved.

  • Anonymous
    5 Apr 2019 3:18pm

    Played well above his weight. Brilliant in his Balmain days

  • Fletch
    25 Mar 2025 12:02pm

    I followed Manly back in the day & always admired Mick Neill.How he got through so many games I dont know but the bloke was a champion.His brother Alan went ok too.Hope the little bloke is going well & thanks for the great memories Mick.

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Contributions: Rugby League Tables, Paul Carter, Greg Fiveash, AJ Lucantonio, Shawn Dollin, Andrew Ferguson, Alan Katzmann, Max Turner

Sources: David Middleton's Rugby League Yearbook (1987-88 to present), Match Video, News Reports, Wakefield Trinity Heritage , Widnes RLFC History , Warrington Rugby Heritage , RFL Player Registers, Irvin Saxton's Record Keepers' Club, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook (1981-82 to 1999)