Alex Murphy (rugby league)

For other people named Alex Murphy, seeAlex Murphy (disambiguation).

Alexander James MurphyOBE(born 22 April 1939) is an English former professionalrugby leaguefootballer, andcoachof the mid to late 20th century. Known as 'Murphy the Mouth' (or"Yapper"by some referees) and regarded as one of the greatest halfbacks in the history of the British game,he represented Great Britain in 27 Testsand his club career was played at three clubs,St. Helens,LeighandWarrington.Murphy assumed aplayer-coachrole of the last two clubs and expanded his coaching role toward the end of his playing career to include clubs such asWigan,SalfordandHuddersfield.He later returned to both Warrington and Leigh respectively as a football manager.He was the first player to captain three different clubs to victory in theChallenge CupFinal.

Alex Murphy

Personal information
Full name	Alexander James Murphy
Born	(1939-04-22)22 April 1939 St Helens
Playing information
Position	Halfback,Stand-off,Scrum-half
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1956–65 St Helens 320 175 42 0 609 1966–71 Leigh 113+5 33 96 291 1971–75 Warrington 66+1 9 12 28 107 Total 505 217 150 28 1007 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1958–71 Great Britain 27 16 0 0 48 1969 England 2 1 1 0 5 1958–70 Lancashire 14 12 2 0 40 1958 GB tour 1958 16 18 3 0 60 1962 GB tour 1962 8 7 0 0 21
Coaching information
Club Years Team Gms W D L W% 1966–71 Leigh 205 130 13 62 63 1971–78 Warrington 308 176 14 118 57 1978–80 Salford 93 44 5 44 47 1980–82 Leigh 63 44 3 16 70 1982–84 Wigan 82 49 4 29 60 1985 Leigh 22 12 2 8 55 1985–90 St Helens 167 107 5 55 64 1990–91 Leigh 39 22 1 16 56 1991–94 Huddersfield 96 61 0 35 64 2003 Leigh Centurions 0 0 0 0 Total 1075 645 47 383 60 Representative Years Team Gms W D L W% 1975 England 11 7 2 2 64 1973–78 Lancashire 12 9 0 3 75 1985–88 Lancashire 3 0 0 3 0
Source:

Background

Born inSt. Helens,Lancashireon 22 April 1939,Murphy was brought up inThatto Heath,and at ten years of age had played in both the junior and senior XIIIs at St Austin's School.

Playing career

Murphy had received town and county schoolboy honours by the time he signed with his native St. Helens for £80 on his 16th birthday in 1955.The signing itself was almost akin to a military operation. St. Helens representatives smuggled Murphy 'under cover' to a nearby house until the clock struck midnight to signal Murphy's 16th birthday, and his eligibility to sign professional terms.He was coached from an early age byJim Sullivan.During hisnational serviceMurphy playedrugby unionfor theRoyal Air Force,frequently playing for an Air Force team the same week as playing rugby league for St. Helens.

St. Helens

Murphy began his career at St. Helens playing reserve team rugby (known then as the 'A' team). After several "A" team games, Murphy demanded a place in the first team. This demand was refused and so he promptly demanded a transfer. The dispute was settled and Murphy's first team début was againstWhitehavenatKnowsley Road.

Murphy's career at St. Helens went on to be long and successful. While still a teenager, he was selected to tourAustralasiawith theGreat Britain sidein 1958, becoming the youngest touring player at the time,and helping Great Britain to victory in the famous second Test in which they were down to ten men. He scored 21 tries in 20 appearances on that tour.

He won theChampionshipwith St. Helens in1958–59 season.The following year he played in Great Britain'sWorld Cup-winning side. With his club he claimed theChallenge Cupin 1961.

On the 1962 Ashes tour he suffered a shoulder injury which caused him to miss three months of the domestic seasonand there was some speculation he would never play again.On this tour he scored 9 tries in 11 appearances.

Murphy became the first British rugby league footballer to have twotestimonial matches.They were atSt. Helensin 1965, and atWarringtonin 1976.

Alex Murphy played atcentreand scored aconversioninSt. Helens' 35–12 victory overHalifaxin theChampionshipFinal during the1965–66 seasonatStation Road, Swintonon Saturday 28 May 1966, in front of a crowd of 30,165.

Alex Murphy playedscrum-half,and scored atryinSt. Helens' 12–6 victory overWiganin the1961 Challenge CupFinal during the1960–61 seasonatWembley Stadium,Londonon Saturday 13 May 1961, in front of a crowd of 94,672, and played atcentreand scored aconversionin the 21–2 victory overWiganin the1966 Challenge CupFinal during the1965–66 seasonatWembley Stadium,Londonon Saturday 21 May 1966, in front of a crowd of 98,536.

Alex Murphy playedscrum-halfinSt. Helens' 2–12 defeat byOldhamin the1958 Lancashire CupFinal during the1958–59 seasonatStation Road, Swintonon Saturday 25 October 1958, playedscrum-halfin the 4–5 defeat byWarringtonin the1959 Lancashire CupFinal during the1959–60 seasonatCentral Park,Wiganon Saturday 31 October 1959, playedscrum-halfin the 15–9 victory overSwintonin the1960 Lancashire CupFinal during the1960–61 seasonatCentral Park,Wiganon Saturday 29 October 1960, playedscrum-half,and scored atryin the 25–9 victory overSwintonin the1961 Lancashire CupFinal during the1961–62 seasonatCentral Park,Wiganon Saturday 11 November 1961, playedscrum-halfin the 15–4 victory overLeighin the1962 Lancashire CupFinal during the1962–63 seasonatStation Road, Swintonon Saturday 26 October 1963, and playedscrum-halfin the 12–4 victory overSwintonin the1964 Lancashire CupFinal during the1964–65 seasonatCentral Park,Wiganon Saturday 24 October 1964.

Alex Murphy playedstand-offinSt. Helens' 0–4 defeat byCastlefordin the1965 BBC2 Floodlit TrophyFinal during the1965–66 seasonatKnowsley Road,St. Helenson Tuesday 14 December 1965

Leigh

Murphy left St. Helens to becomeplayer-coachat Leighbecause he was unhappy at being moved to thecentresto accommodate the signing ofTommy Bishop.As the 1966–67 season began, Murphy declined to play for St. Helens. The Australian club,North Sydneyindicated their interest in signing him. At the end of September, Murphy submitted a written transfer request to the St. Helens board who accepted it, putting him on the list at £12,000.

North Sydney tabled a bid of £8,000 for Murphy which was accepted. However, at the last minute, Murphy agreed to a 5-year deal with Leigh to become the highest paid coach in theRugby Football League.

Murphy's first game in charge of his new team was against his former club in a league match atHilton Park.Murphy's Leigh overcame a depleted St. Helens side by 29–5. Murphy later recounted in an issue of theRugby Leaguersome 20 years later that:

"It never entered my mind to leave Saints in the first place. But events took over and there was a lot of pride involved on both sides and the situation reached the stage where a parting of the ways became inevitable."

Alex Murphy playedscrum-half,and was thecoach,and wasman-of-the-matchwinning theLance Todd TrophyinLeigh's 24–7 victory overLeedsin the1971 Challenge CupFinal during the1970–71 seasonatWembley Stadium,Londonon Saturday 15 May 1971, in front of a crowd of 85,514. This was a match where Murphy's ability to attract controversy was once again exemplified. He was involved in an altercation with Leeds'Syd Hyneswhich resulted in Hynes being sent off for headbutting Murphy. Murphy was carried off the pitch on a stretcher, but later returned to the bench and was able to lift the trophy at the end of the game. Over the years, tales of Murphy winking to his teammates as he was carried from the field have endured, and Hynes always maintained his innocence.

Alex Murphy playedscrum-half,and scored aconversioninLeigh's 2–11 defeat bySwintonin the1969 Lancashire CupFinal during the1969–70 seasonatCentral Park,Wiganon Saturday 1 November 1969, and playedscrum-halfin the 7–4 victory overSt. Helensin the1970 Lancashire CupFinalreplayduring the1970–71 seasonatStation Road, Swintonon Saturday 28 November 1970.

Alex Murphy playedscrum-half,and was thecoachinLeigh's 5–8 defeat byCastlefordin the1967 BBC2 Floodlit TrophyFinal during the1967–68 seasonatHeadingley,Leedson Saturday 16 January 1968, and playedscrum-half,was thecoach,and scored aconversionin the 11–6 victory overWiganin the1969 BBC2 Floodlit TrophyFinal during the1969–70 seasonatCentral Park,Wiganon Tuesday 16 December 1969.

Warrington

Murphy left Leigh shortly afterwards to becomeplayer-coachat Warrington. Murphy won one Great Britain cap while at Warrington. In 1973 a 20-match unbeaten run in the league helped Warrington win the League Leader's Trophy. The1973–74 seasonwas the most successful at Warrington, with the club winning theChallenge Cup,Captain Morgan trophy, John Player trophy and Club Merit trophy. The highlight was when Murphycoached,captainedand playedstand-offinWarrington's 24–9 victory overFeatherstone Roversin the1974 Challenge CupFinal during the1973–74 seasonatWembley Stadium,Londonon Saturday 11 May 1974, in front of a crowd of 77,400.He was again thecoachin the 7–14 defeat byWidnesin the1975 Challenge CupFinal during the1974–75 seasonatWembley Stadium,Londonon Saturday 10 May 1975, in front of a crowd of 85,998, but missed playing in the match through injury, retiring as a player shortly after but remaining as coach of the club until 1978. During his time as the Warrington coach, his old rivals, Widnes succeeded in reaching another Challenge Cup final in 1976, their opponents being St. Helens. Murphy caused controversy by declaring that he would jump off the Runcorn-Widnes BridgeSilver Jubilee Bridgeand into the River Mersey if Widnes won; luckily, Widnes were defeated 20 points to 5 and Murphy managed to keep his feet on dry land.

Alex Murphy was thecoachinWarrington's 0–0 draw withSalfordin the1974 BBC2 Floodlit TrophyFinal during the1974–75 seasonatThe Willows, Salfordon Tuesday 17 December 1974, and in the 5–10 defeat bySalfordin the1974 BBC2 Floodlit TrophyFinalreplayduring the1974–75 seasonatWilderspool Stadium,Warringtonon Tuesday 28 January 1975.

Alex Murphy was thecoachinWarrington's 4–0 victory overFeatherstone Roversin the 1973–74Captain Morgan TrophyFinal during the1973–74 seasonatThe Willows,Salfordon Saturday 26 January 1974, in front of a crowd of 5,259.

Coaching career

Upon retirement, Murphy built upon the experience he had acquired as aplayer-coachby taking up the reins as a full-time coach. He was co-coach ofEnglandwithBill Oxleyduring the1975 World Series.

After Warrington, Murphy was appointed to high-profile roles atSalford(May 1978 to November 1980), Leigh (1980 to 1982) where in 1982 he guided Leigh to the Division 1 championship and Lancashire cup winners, before taking the role of coach of Wigan in 1982. There, he led them to victory in the John Player Trophy in 1983, and took them to the Challenge Cup Final in 1984, where they lost to Widnes. He left at the start of the next season, following a row with vice chairmanMaurice Lindsay.

In 1988 Murphy was an inaugural inductee into theRugby League Hall of Fame.

He took over as coach of St. Helens in 1986, taking them toWembley Stadium,Londonin 1987, against Halifax, and again in 1989 where they played Wigan. St Helens lost by one point to Halifax, and were humiliated by Wigan in an error-ridden performance two years later, losing 27–0, becoming the first side ever held scoreless in a Challenge Cup Final at Wembley. During the last 10 minutes of the Challenge Cup Final, St. Helens received a penalty that was well within kicking range for either of their goal kickers, Great Britain internationalPaul Loughlin,and Australian dual internationalMichael O'Connor.Knowing that no side had ever been held scoreless in a Cup Final at Wembley and not wanting his St. Helens to be the first, Murphy frantically gestured from the sideline to team captainPaul Vautinto take the kick at goal despite the scoreline. Vautin ignored Murphy's instructions and instead the ball was kicked into touch for a tap restart. Wigan's defense held firm though and St. Helens last scoring opportunity was lost. This led to tension between Murphy and Vautin for a number of years until they worked together for the AustralianNine Networkduring television coverage of The Ashes series during the1994 Kangaroo tour.

In 1991, he joinedHuddersfield:within a year, promotion to the Second Division had been achieved.

After a six-year absence from rugby league, Murphy returned to the game in 2003 as football director of Leigh after theNational League Oneclub sacked coachPaul Terzis.

Post-retirement

In 1998 Murphy was awarded the OBE for services to the game of rugby league. In 2000 his autobiography,Saint and Sinnerwas published.Murphy was also employed as a commentator by BBC television for a number of years working alongside long-time league commentatorsEddie Waring,and later former dual rugby internationalRay French.He also worked for Australia'sNine Networkas an expert commentator during the1994 Kangaroo tour. He was also employed to write opinion columns for newspapers such as theDaily Mirror,and theManchester Evening News.One was known as 'Murphy's Mouth.' In 2006 he became Chairman ofOxford Cavaliersrugby league club. Murphy is an inductee in both the St Helens RFC Hall of Fame,and the Warrington Wolves RLFC Hall of Fame.

External links

• (archived by web.archive.org)Alex Murphy at rugbyleaguehistory.com
• Alex Murphy at eraofthebiff.com
• https://web.archive.org/web/20060507140342/http://www.rlhalloffame.org.uk/murphy.htm
• Profile at saints.org.uk
• The Times
• http://www.saintsrlfc.com/
• http://www.oxfordrl.com