Gavin Miller

Referee Career

Vital Statistics

Full Name
Gavin John Miller
Born
Monday, 4th January, 1960
Current Age
64 years and 84 days
Place Of Birth
Inverell, New South Wales, Australia

Awards & Accolades

Man Of Steel Award
1986
Dally M Player Of The Year
1988, 1989
Dally M Second Rower Of The Year
1988, 1989
RLW Player of the Year
1989
Rothmans Medal
1989

Biography

The Sydney career of Gavin Miller can be viewed in two halves punctuated by a highly successful stint in England with Hull KR. Miller was a boom 18-year-old centre when he came to Wests from Goulburn on the recommendation of his coach (former Magpie forward) Jim Cody in 1977. However, his career faltered when he moved to Easts in 1978. Joining Cronulla, Miller represented NSW in two matches in 1983 but he did not fulfill his potential and it looked like a case of too much too soon for the talented ball-player. After a poor season with Easts in 1984, he joined Hull KR where he developed his considerable talents. In 1985-1986 he was named Player of the Year in the English Club Championship. Returning to Sydney to resume his career with the Sharks, it was a more mature, experienced player that helped the club to the minor premiership in 1988. That year Miller made his only Test appearance, against Papua New Guinea, but was also selected in the international match against the Rest of the World (a man-of-the-match performance), for Oceania against Great Britain and in the World Cup final in NZ. He was named ‘Dally M’ Player of the Year in consecutive years (1988-89) as well as Second Rower of the Year (1988-89) and Players' Player (1988). Miller's good form continued at club level but his representative career faltered when, as captain of NSW, the Blues were whitewashed 3-nil in 1989. However, on a personal level, the year was a success; he was a joint winner of the Rothmans Medal (with Mark Sargent) and 'Dally M' Player of the Year (as well as winning several other major awards), but he was continually overlooked for Test duty. Miller retired at the end of 1992 season, relegated to reserve grade but with his old skills still sparking, and took on a captain-coach position at Goulburn.
- ALAN WHITICKER

Referee Career Statistics

All statistics shown in this section are based only on data available in the RLP database, and are not necessarily a complete and/or 100% accurate representation of a player's career. This information should be used as a guide only. If you see a question mark (?), it denotes that the figure is not available.

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Your Say

  • Paul Carter
    24/12/2011

    Miller was the First ever Player Born in the 1960s to play First Grade in the New South Wales Rugby League/Australian Rugby League/Super League/National Rugby League.

  • bondichook
    26/08/2022

    No he wasn't. He retired long before Super League and NRL.

  • Cody Cruickshank
    09/08/2023

    I don't know if many realise this, but he is the only player to have won the Player of the Year/Best & Fairest award in both the Australian and English top grade premierships (Rothmans Medal later the Dally M Medal + Man of Steel Award).

  • Anonymous
    09/01/2024

    Best ball player I've ever seen. Great chemistry with outside backs, along with side step to break the line himself. Most importantly, willing to take hits to put players through gaps. Best player in the nswrl (now NRL) in 1988 & 1989, ahead of legends like Sterling, Lewis & Elias.

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

Sources: NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1989-90, Match Video, NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1987-88, NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1988-89, NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1990-91, NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1991-92, Newspapers, NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1992-93, Irvin Saxton's Record Keepers' Club, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1986-87, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1985-86, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1987-88, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1989-90