Gordonvale boy’s sure done Far North proud
THE father of State of Origin hero Nate Myles never expected his son to play in the NRL, let alone feature in 32 matches for Queensland in a storied rugby league career.
But Gordonvale’s Tony Myles said he felt immense pride upon hearing of his son’s retirement from top-level rugby league at the weekend.
Myles played 233 career games with Canterbury, the Sydney Roosters, Gold Coast and Manly before finishing with the Melbourne Storm.
The elder Myles said it wasn’t until a rugby league legend told him his son was immensely talented that he realised young Nate was destined for greatness.
“The first bloke who said to me ‘this boy will make it’ was the late, great (Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame member) Artie Beetson,” he said. “That was in 2005. He made his debut for Queensland not long after that.
“We watched from the sidelines the whole way through.
“I was at every single State of Origin game he played.
“I never took holidays, I just went to Origin games.”
A carpenter by trade, Myles Sr spent the weekend in sweltering heat relocating a house near Cooktown.
“I can’t afford to retire. I was crawling around a roof all day today,” he said, laughing.
Storm coach Craig Bellamy said Myles had been an exemplary teammate throughout his career.
“If you asked any of his teammates the best thing about playing alongside Nate, I’m confident they would mention his toughness and consistent effort each week,” he said.
“He has never let them down on the field.”
In 2013, Cairns Regional Council erected a road sign in honour of Myles’ rugby league achievements.
“I pinch myself every time I drive past that sign,” the elder Myles said. “He’s just a Gordonvale boy who made good and that’s always been Nate.
“I’m not too sure what he’ll do next. I think he’s heading to LA in February ... with his wife. He’s got a baby due soon, too. He’s got a few irons in the fire.”
THE FIRST BLOKE WHO SAID TO ME ‘THIS BOY WILL MAKE IT’ WAS THE LATE, GREAT (AUSTRALIAN RUGBY LEAGUE HALL OF FAME MEMBER) ARTIE BEETSON