Birthday boys Paul “Fatty’’ Vautin, Gene Miles - 62 reasons they’re legends
Birthday buddies, Origin legends Paul Vautin and Gene Miles, leave for holidays today to celebrate their 62nd birthdays. Here are 62 reasons Maroon’s fans say thank you to the dynamic duo.
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Birthday buddies and Queensland State of Origin legends Paul Vautin and Gene Miles both celebrate their 62nd birthdays today.
They will share the milestones with their families on a holiday.
Between them they played 45 Origins between them (Vautin 22, Miles 23) and 27 Tests (Vautin 13, Miles 14).
To mark the 62nd birthday of these FOGS, here are 62 things Maroon’s fans are grateful for when it comes to Miles and Vautin.
Queensland fans are grateful to Vautin for:
1. For Vautin’s 70m dash in the late 1970s playing for Wests Panthers at Lang Park which lit up an afternoon of BRL action.
2. For Manly legend Fred Jones giving Vautin a great nickname which was to become part of his brand. “Who’s this little Fatty’’ Jones asked during Vautin’s early days at Manly in Sydney.
3. For Vautin’s try on debut in the rain in Game 2, 1982. Queensland were down 1-nil in the series and won that match 11-8.
4. For backing up Gene Miles to score a runaway Origin try to give Queensland a flying start in 1983.
5. For coaching his famous “No Names’’ of 1995 to a series win.
6. For moving from Sydney to call Queensland (the Gold Coast) home in retirement. It never felt right, a great Queenslander living in Sydney.
7. For saying “that’ll do me’’ so often on The Footy Show.
8. For being ready to go for Queensland every Origin match he played.
9. For the funny story about his first grade debut as a replacement for Wests Panthers when, just a teenager, and having never trained with first grade, he ran on in the second half just in time to pack into the second row. Veteran Wests forward Rod Bradshaw asked him as they were packing down in the scrum “who are you’’?
10. Being hours and hours of entertainment as the best anchor on The Footy Show.
11. For coming back to give some balance on Channel 9s television broadcasts.
12. For coming back to Brisbane radio on a Monday night (6pm) where he shares an hour with decorated host, the popular Peter Psaltis on radio 4BC.
13. For listening to whomever taught him to tackle (I think it was his father).
14. For telling it the way it is in the media. The bloke’s a funny man, but his opinion counts when serious stuff in the game is debated.
15. For joining the punters recently in criticising the NRL Commission for going overboard by sin-binning head high tackles that would not hurt a fly.
16. For joining the punters and being their mouth piece in criticising the NRL Commission for going overboard with this six-again rule. Gosh, isn’t the game quick enough?
17. For flying from Sydney to attend the funeral of the daughter of a Brisbane journalist.
18. For his constructive criticism of the way representative rugby union is played. Schoolboy and club rugby is good. Rep rugby struggles all too often to provide entertainment.
19. For his bravery on Origin night when he would play himself to a stand still. No interchange in those days, he just tackled and ran for 80 minutes.
20. This is a thank you to his parents for giving him the biggest ticker going - he needed it being a 90kg second rower in the NSWRL and on Origin night.
21. This is a thank you to the national selectors for recognising Vautin was not just a big hearted Origin specialist, but also a Test quality player.
22. For never forgetting his roots at Wests juniors or Padua College.
23. For being there to captain Queensland in one match when Wally Lewis missed his only Origin match between 1980 and 1991.
24. For flying Queensland’s flag as captain of a Sydney (Manly) premiership winning team (1987).
25. For the look he gave when someone on the Footy Show joked about the Sydney Roosters never being over the salary cap. I think the punters in their lounge room that night got the message.
26. For making Trevor Gillmeister captain of his ‘95 Origin No Names.
27. For that inspiring motivational speech at the MCG ahead of game 2, 1995. Rumour was the first Maroon to shout “Queenslander” would get a smack in the mouth. Vautin challenged his players who would be the first to call “Queenslanders’’ and 17 hands in the room went up.
28. For making sure Dick “Tossa’’ Turner was his manager in the 1995 “No Names’’ Series win.
29. For doing all the grunt work in the middle so people like Wally Lewis and Alfie Langer could run their attacking plays.
30. For singing the national anthem so loud and proud on Origin night.
31. For singing the national Anthem so loud and proud on Test match night.
32. For bringing balance to the Channel 9 commentary team on Origin night.
33. For being a great yarn spinner.
34. For his funny head wobble on the Footy Show.
35. For his amusing saying “Turn it up’’.
36. For his funny saying “that’ll do me’’.
37. For his amusing saying: “It’s a stretch up’’.
Queensland fans are grateful to Gene Miles for:
38. For leaving his comfort zone at Townsville Souths and coming down with Colin Scott to play BRL with Easts Tigers.
39. For powering over the top of NSW fullback villain Gary Jack to score. Gosh Queenslanders loved that.
40. For the line he ran to help Wally Lewis get Queensland over the line in so many Origins during the 1980s.
41. For making the break, off Wally of course, to put Fatty Vautin over for a try in 1983. Vautin ran so quickly, his flaming red hair was blown backward as he motored to score.
42. For going on to play a big match in Origin No.2, 1984, despite being a punching back for the NSW forwards in a moment which sparked a wild brawl.
43. For turning his back on the NSWRL to remain in the BRL with Wynnum Manly.
44. For being star power for the BRL. Who needed Sydney when you had a BRL as strong as we enjoyed in the 1980s.
45. For his role in improving excellent Queensland talent who either played against him, or with him at Wynnum Manly.
46. For being a part of an amazing Wynnum Manly side in 1984 that was so strong, good judges reckon they would have been a top three side in the NSWRL with ease.
47. For having the desire to come back from a serious knee injury after stepping into a rabbit hole during a pre-season match in Maclean in northern NSW.
48. For teaming with Mal Meninga in the centres on Origin night. Has there been a better centre pairing in Origin history? No.
49. For teaming with Brett Kenny on the 1986 Kangaroo tour. Has there been a better centre pairing in the history of the Kangaroos? I doubt it. Just ask Australian winger Michael O’Connor who had the honour of playing outside the duo.
30. For his successful transition from centre to second row. He went from being the best centre in the game to the best second rower in the game in 1988.
51. For his role in helping Queensland win the 1988 and 1989 series. Those two teams were as good as any Queensland has fielded - including ones which contained Smith, Slater, Thurston and Lockyer.
52. For his role as a state selector in contributing to Queensland’s success
53. For leading the Broncos pack in the club’s formative seasons in the NRL in 1989 and 1990.
54. For showing the people of Townsville, including young rugby league players, that dreams can come true.
55. For winding a renowned BRL hit man for a marginally late shot. Referee Manson heard the thud and turned to see Miles running back on side and his victim on his backside. “Okay Gene, now you are even, but next time you are off,’’ Manson said.
56. For being so damn good for Queensland, he forced Chris Close, man of the match in Games 1 and 2, out of the starting side. That was reflective of the strength of Queensland league in the early 1980s which led to the Maroons winning eight of the first 11 matches.
57. For his behind the scene role with the FOGS organisation which helps old footballers who need a hand.
58. For teaming with Wally Lewis and Mal Meninga to make Queensland so damn good. As a state we needed success in rugby league after decades of drought.
59. For keeping the mo fashionable.
60. For his second row combination with Gavin Miller in a Test series in New Zealand. What a combination - Miller’s ball play and Miles’ running game. Wow!
61. For his passion on Origin night. Miles had the ability, but many do. Mix it with his passion and that is why he is still talked about today by old timers.
62. For being a modest champion. He is arguably Queensland’s most underrated great and could easily join big Mal as an immortal. Ex-NSW enforcer Steve Roach said he was the best centre he played with while Geoff Toovey rates him in his top couple of favourite champions.
Happy 62nd birthday to Queensland State of Origin greats Gene Miles and Paul Vautin.
Originally published as Birthday boys Paul “Fatty’’ Vautin, Gene Miles - 62 reasons they’re legends
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