Roger Millward
Roger Millward was an English rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s and 1970s, and coached in the 1980s and 1990s. A goal-kicking , he gained a high level of prominence in the sport in England by playing for Hull Kingston Rovers and Castleford, as well as representing Great Britain. Millward was awarded the Order of the British Empire in 1983. Nicknamed “Roger the Dodger” for his elusive running, he was inducted into the Rugby League Hall of Fame in 2000. Millward’s ability placed him in the top bracket of rugby league halves to have ever played the game.
Early life
Millward was born in Castleford, West Riding of Yorkshire, England.Domestic career
Castleford
Millward began his professional career in September 1964, signing for his home town club Castleford. He made his début on 3 October 1964 against Dewsbury Celtic, and won his first domestic honours in 1965 with Castleford picking up the Floodlit Trophy, playing in a 4–0 victory over St. Helens. Millward played in the position of and, due to the importance of such a position in rugby league, and due to the fact there were many more experienced players in the Castleford side at that time Millward found it hard to break into the first team for any length of time. Millward played in Castleford's victory in the Yorkshire League during the 1964–65 season. Despite his lack of game experience, the international selectors were interested in Millward and picked him to play for the Great Britain team in March 1966 against France at the age of 18 and one of Great Britain's youngest players.Hull Kingston Rovers
On 8 August 1966, Millward transferred from Castleford to Hull Kingston Rovers for a fee of £6,000, making his début for Hull Kingston Rovers at Hunslet on 15 August 1966; Millward was substituted at half time due to sustaining a leg injury. He helped the club win the 1966–67 Yorkshire Cup, playing as in a 25–12 victory over Featherstone Rovers at Headingley, Leeds on 15 October 1966, and helped to retain it in the following season, playing as in a 8–7 victory over cross-city rivals Hull F.C. at Headingley on 14 October 1967.In the 1968 season, Millward finished as the top try scorer for Hull Kingston Rovers with a total of 38 tries in that season, picking up the supporters' player of the year award. Due to his good form, he was awarded a call up to the Great Britain squad for the 1968 World Cup which Britain lost to Australia.
In 1969, at the age of 21, Millward was given the captaincy of Hull Kingston Rovers and was also voted the supporters' player of the year for a second time. He was also honoured with the title of Rugby League Players No.6 "Player of the Year".
In the mid-1970s, Hull Kingston Rovers had become a dominant force in the world of rugby league thanks in part to Millward's playmaking abilities. Although Hull Kingston Rovers were now one of the top clubs in British rugby league, the major awards eluded Millward during his career at Hull Kingston Rovers, with just two more Yorkshire Cup winner's medals and a runner's up medal along with two consecutive supporters' player of the year awards.
In the 1976 close season, Millward decided to play for an Australian club, Cronulla-Sutherland. Millward made 14 appearances during his time in Sydney, and scored one try as well as kicking 17 points for the then struggling club before returning to Hull.
Millward's testimonial season took place during the 1976–77 season. During the season, Millward set a new record for Hull Kingston Rovers with the most tries scored in a season, scoring 160 tries in total, and was again voted the supporters' player of the season. Millward's testimonial season concluded with a testimonial match between Hull Kingston Rovers and the Great Britain national rugby league team at Craven Park on 31 July 1977, in which Hull Kingston Rovers were defeated heavily.
Player-coach
In March 1977, Millward was appointed as player-coach of Hull Kingston Rovers following the sudden death of incumbent manager Harry Poole. Millward played as and coach in Hull Kingston Rovers' 26–11 victory over St. Helens in the 1977 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final during the 1977–78 season on 13 December 1977.In the 1978–79 season, Hull Kingston Rovers were crowned Division One Champions for the first time since 1925. Millward and his Hull Kingston Rovers side qualified to play cross-city rivals Hull F.C., who had previously beaten Hull Kingston Rovers in a 3–13 defeat in the 1979 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final, in the 1979–80 Challenge Cup Final at Wembley Stadium on 30 May 1980, playing as in front of a crowd of 95,000. Despite breaking his jaw midway through the first half, Millward continued and was awarded the trophy at the end of the game.
Millward returned to Hull Kingston Rovers after the 1980 Challenge Cup victory the following October in a match against Batley. However, he was forced to retire prematurely from rugby league after sustaining another broken jaw in a late tackle during the match, his fourth such injury in ten months.
International career
By 1969, Millward had established himself as a full Great Britain international after his début at 18 years of age playing, in the 4–8 defeat by France at Central Park, Wigan on 5 March 1966, he went on to make 47 appearances for Great Britain, including 29 Tests. Millward went on tour with Great Britain a total of five times and also toured with the England national rugby league team on one occasion, captaining in both World Cup tournaments.Millward’s international career was important as he was an integral member of Great Britain’s last Ashes winning Tour to Australia in 1970 and the last time any series was won against the Australians.
Millward played in the 1967 Test Series against the Kangaroo tourists in Britain, and the 1968 World Cup, both campaigns being unsuccessful. However, his finest hour as an international came in the Great Britain touring party of 1970. He was overlooked in favour of former Castleford club mate Alan Hardisty for the first Test against the Australians. The Great Britain team was heavily beaten 37–15 and wholesale changes were made for the 2nd Test. Millward was drafted into the side, where he gave a superb match winning performance scoring 20 points in a 28–7 win to square the series. This equalled the match points record for an individual against the Australians, which had previously been set by Lewis Jones.
The third Test decider was also successful and the Ashes regained. The 21–17 score did not reflect Great Britain’s superiority as they scored five tries to one, but were heavily penalised by the referee. Again, Millward rose to the occasion: with approximately five-minutes to go he scored the match and series winning try on the Sydney Cricket Ground. The try resulted from a thrust through the middle by the second rows, first by Jimmy Thompson, and then a bust by Doug Laughton, who then delivered a brilliant pass to Millward in space; Millward took the pass at pace and in turn then outstripped the opposition defence in an arcing run of over 40-yards to score. He also kicked three goals in the game.
Thereafter, Millward played with distinction for Great Britain in various internationals against the other nations, but a winning series against the Australians proved elusive.
Millward missed the 1970 Rugby League World Cup due to a broken fibula in his left leg. He was named in the Great Britain squad for the 1972 Rugby League World Cup, but later withdrew.
During the 1978 Kangaroo tour Millward captained Great Britain from in all three Test matches of the Ashes series which Australia won 2–1.
Coaching
Hull Kingston Rovers
After retiring, Millward stayed on the coaching staff at Hull Kingston Rovers throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, guiding his team to another Challenge Cup Final and the Yorkshire Cup Final in the 1980–81 season. Hull Kingston Rovers lost 9–18 to Widnes in the Challenge Cup Final and lost 7–8 to Leeds in the Yorkshire Cup Final, however they did manage a Premiership trophy. Millward coached Hull Kingston Rovers to the 1981–82 John Player Trophy Final, which they lost to Hull F.C., and second in the Division One Championship. Millward was later awarded an MBE by the Queen for services to rugby league and sport in Great Britain.During the 1983–84 season Hull Kingston Rovers dominated the scene with Millward's leadership, winning the League Championship as well as the Premiership to be the first team to complete the double and were rightfully crowned the 'Rugby League Team of the Year'. The 1984–85 season was almost as historic with victories in the John Player Trophy Final and being crowned Division One Champions for the fifth time, but lost out on the Premiership Final.
In 1984–85 Millward coached his side to the last major final of his tenure. The club were victorious in the 1984–85 John Player Special Trophy but were defeated 12–29 by Hull F.C. in the Yorkshire Cup Final, as well as being defeated 14–15 by Castleford in the Challenge Cup Final, consequently seeing the end of Hull Kingston Rovers' domination of English rugby league. Millward retired from the club at the end of the 1990–91 season, coinciding with its relegation to Division Two.
Halifax R.L.F.C.
In May 1991, Millward was appointed as coach of Halifax R.L.F.C., replacing incumbent coach Peter Roe in a two-year contract following the club's promotion to the First Division. Millward resigned from the club by mutual consent in December 1992 following a string of defeats, being replaced by Mal Reilly.Personal life
Roger Millward lived in Kippax, near Leeds. He was employed as a Premises Manager by Royds Specialist Language College, near Rothwell Sports Centre. He attended rugby league matches, mainly those involving his home town club Castleford. Roger Millward was the cousin of the rugby league footballer and coach Brian Lockwood.In 2007 Millward had an operation to remove a cancerous growth in his jaw.