Roger Millward

The Great Britain team was heavily beaten 37–15 and wholesale changes were made for the 2nd Test.

Roger Millward (16 September 1947 – 2 May 2016) 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 (captain) and Castleford, as well as representing Great Britain.

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.

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 (such as Alan Hardisty and Keith Hepworth) 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.

Millward played in Castleford's 4–0 victory over St. Helens in the 1965 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final during the 1965–66 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Tuesday 14 December 1965.

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.

On 8 August 1966 Millward was transferred from Castleford to Hull Kingston Rovers for a fee of £6,000, (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £185,900 in 2013) and he made his début for Hull Kingston Rovers at Hunslet on 15 August 1966 and helped the club win the Yorkshire County Cup, and retain it in the 1967 season.

Roger Millward played in Hull Kingston Rovers' 25–12 victory over Featherstone Rovers in the 1966–67 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1966–67 season at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 15 October 1966, played in the 8–7 victory over Hull F.C. in the 1967–68 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1967–68 season at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 14 October 1967, played, and scored 4-conversions in the 11–7 victory over Castleford in the 1971–72 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1971–72 season at Belle Vue, Wakefield on Saturday 21 August 1971, played , and was man of the match winning the White Rose Trophy in Hull Kingston Rovers' 16–13 victory over Wakefield Trinity in the 1974–75 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1974–75 season at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 26 October 1974, and played , and scored a drop goal in the 11–15 defeat by Leeds in the 1975–76 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1975–76 season at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 15 November 1975.

Millward retired from rugby league a year after the historic challenge cup victory whilst playing for Hull Kingston Rovers' A Team against a Batley A Team.

This was Millward's return to action after sustaining a broken jaw in the Challenge Cup Final victory but he was hit by a Batley player and sustained another broken jaw, his fourth in ten months.

It was his last game.

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 Team on one occasion, captaining in both World Cup tournaments.

Millward played in the 1967 Test Series against the Kangaroo tourists in Britain, and the 1968 World Cup, both campaigns being unsuccessful.

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 the second time as well as being 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.

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.

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.

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 (1971–72, 1974–75) and a runner's up medal (1975–76) along with two more supporters' player of the year awards (1974–75, 1975–76).

In Millward's testimonial year he managed to set a new record for Hull Kingston Rovers with the most tries scored in a season, scoring 160 tries in total.

In the 1976 close season Millward decided to go and 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.

In 1977 Millward was named as player-coach of Hull Kingston Rovers after the unfortunate death of the club's former manager Harry Poole.

Millward played, and was the coach in Hull Kingston Rovers' 26–11 victory over St. Helens in the 1977 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final during the 1977–78 season at Craven Park, Hull on Tuesday 13 December 1977.

He was again voted the supporters' player of the season.

This then started a period of total domination for Hull Kingston Rovers.

Millward's Testimonial match at Hull Kingston Rovers took place in 1977.

In the 1978–79 season Hull Kingston Rovers were crowned Division One Champions (the first since 1925).

In the 1979–80 season Millward and his Hull Kingston Rovers side made it to Wembley to play cross-city rivals Hull F.C. in the Challenge Cup Final, despite breaking his jaw midway through the first half, Millward continued and was awarded the trophy at the end of the game.

Roger Millward played, and was the captain and coach in Hull Kingston Rovers' 10–5 victory over Hull F.C. in the 1979–80 Challenge Cup Final during the 1979–80 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 3 May 1980, in front of a crowd of 95,000.

Millward was awarded the Order of the British Empire (MBE) 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.

Millward was born in Castleford, West Riding of Yorkshire, England.