Gavin Miller began his Sydney career as a 17 year old centre at Western Suburbs in 1977, having grown up in Goulburn NSW. In 1978 he moved to Eastern Suburbs, before making his career defining move to the Cronulla Sharks where he would play the rest of Sydney career. It was also at this stage that he was repositioned and settled the into second-row position.
His first couple of years at the Sharks were hard times for the club. Coaching changes were frequent and the Sharks star player Steve Rogers left for St. George. In 1983 he became the youngest ever captain in the Sydney competition at Cronulla. It was also the season Gavin appeared in the sky blue of New South Wales for the first time at Origin level. This was the season when Cronulla hit the wall financially and players were forced to take huge pay cuts. Miller became spokesman for the players and raised $22,000 for the club in sponsorship. The financial crisis that enveloped the club took its toll and alas in 1984 Gavin left Australia and signed for the British club Hull Kingston Rovers.
Having signed with Hull as a virtual unknown to the British Rugby League public, Gavin quickly showed his class, and the toughness that would become the trademark of his game in the usual position of lock forward. During his first season Gavin quickly gained a reputation as a tough tackler and a player who, despite being smallish for a forward, was very difficult to wrap up and a very handy ball-playing forward.
The following season would prove to be a great success for both Gavin and Hull, in a team full of great players Gavin was the stand out and won the prestigious 1985-86 Man of Steel and First Division player of the year. Towards the end of the season Gavin was playing injured and virtually on one leg, he could not inspire his team to a Challenge Cup Final victory, Rovers losing 15-14 to Castleford. Unfortunately injury would rule out Gavin for most of the next season with Hull.
Gavin returned to Australia and the Sharks in 1987 and immediately made an impact Sydney competition, quickly becoming a moving target for opposing forwards due to his excellent ball playing abilities. Opposing teams quickly realized the importance of Gavin to the Sharks chances, thus he was a constant target for late foul play. I cannot remember a player who received as many late shots as Gavin, to his credit he always got up and played on.
The season of 1988 would prove to be Gavins best thus far, winning his first player of the year Dally M award, and playing a leading role against the Kiwis in the World Cup Final. He struck up what turned out to be a very successful combination with Barry Russell the pocket rocket halfback for the Sharks. Cronulla finished up Minor Premiers, but would end up to bowing out to the talented Balmain side. Gavin also returned to Hull for one last season, it would prove rather unsuccessful due to the injuries the club sustained during the season.
The following year was the zenith of Gavin playing career, he again won the Dally M player of the year award and added the Rothmans medal to his trophy cabinet. He was honoured with captaining the NSW State of Origin team for the series; unfortunately NSW lost all three games, with Alan Langer the main destroyer. Gavin would gain his revenge on the Queenslanders later in the season, with the white hot Sharks crushing the Broncos in the play off for the last available finals spot, Miller and Russell were the demolishers.
Gavin ended his illustrious playing career with the Sharks in 1992.
Anyone who witnessed him at his peak, crabbing at a 45 degree angle, slipping incisive passes, embarking on a dummying side-stepping charge, or somehow getting up from a blatant late shot will not forget Gavin Miller, nor his tough as teak attitude.
Gavin Miller Goulburn Sporting Hall of Fame inductee, Hull Hero, Rugby League Legend, Cronulla Immortal.
