For most Sharks fans, 1989 is best remembered for the epic mid-week play-off against the Brisbane Broncos.
But it was also the year that Sharks Immortal Gavin Miller played a pivotal role in what is widely regarded as one of the most iconic marketing campaigns in Australian sport.
During this week in '89, NSWRL General Manager John Quayle arrived in London armed with football jerseys, pristine leather Steeden balls and NSWRL-branded goalpost pads.
Quayle had secretly flown to the UK to meet with international pop sensation Tina Turner. A few months prior, the NSWRL had purchased the rights to Turner's 1986 anthem 'What You Get Is What You See'.
While the narrative of Turner's involvement with rugby league is well-documented, it's essential to recognise the unsung hero who shared the limelight with her in that campaign: Shark number 137, Gavin Miller.
Miller's journey to destiny began at the end of the 1988 season. Fresh off scoring a crucial try in the Kangaroos' World Cup final victory and clinching the prestigious Dally M award for the best player in the NSWRL, Miller returned to his English club, Hull Kingston Rovers, where he had won his fair share of accolades, including the esteemed Man of Steel title in 1986.
Quayle's original plan was to feature another Sharks legend, Andrew Ettingshausen, alongside Turner. However, due to adverse weather conditions in northern England, Ettingshausen couldn't make it to the filming.
Enter Miller, initially slated for a supporting role in the campaign, tasked with facilitating Ettingshausen's participation. When Ettingshausen became unavailable, Miller, out injured at the time and ever resourceful, stepped into the spotlight himself, seizing the opportunity for the commercial shoot.
"So, Gavin calls me back," Quayle said, "and says, John no worries. I can get Cliffy [Lyons] and me. We'll meet her and do the ads. And it worked perfectly."
Despite his significant contribution and appearing alongside Turner in a number of the promotional shots, including the cover of the 1989 Big League magazine, Miller found himself conspicuously absent from the final cut of the commercial. Even Ettingshausen, the league's poster boy and first choice co-star, was notably missing from the final edit.
The two-minute advertisement, aimed squarely at attracting new female fans to rugby league, saw a host of the game's greats filmed shirtless, lathered in sweat slugging it out in pre-season. However, only one Cronulla player was featured: 1988 Rothman’s Medal winner and Shark number 202, Barry Russell.
Miller, reflecting on the snub, remarked, "Yep, they definitely shot a scene, and I was in it. Cliffy (Lyons) and I were sitting on a bench in a dressing room, Tina walked in, and there we were. Why it didn’t make it (onto the commercial) I don't know."
Despite the snub, Miller's 1989 season soared to unprecedented heights. He captained NSW in all three State of Origin matches, guided Cronulla to successive finals, secured his second Dally M Medal, clinched the Rothman's Medal and was crowned Rugby League Week Player of the Year.
To this day, Miller stands alone as the only player to achieve the rare feat of winning a Dally M, Man of Steel, Rothman's Medal and Rugby League Week Player of the Year award.
As for why he was cut from the commercial, my guess is that Quayle didn't pack in his bag a Sharks jersey for Miller to wear given his strong ties to arch enemies the Manly Sea Eagles.
