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Mark Miller |
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Wow mate, Chops has set the bar pretty high but will give it a nudge.
Well its been 3 seasons now since I left the Hawks and moved to Auckland to
take up a job working for "the" brewery, otherwise known as Lion Nathan.
Lion are a fantastic company to work for, all about having a beer and being
social (they have 2 fully stocked bars, open 4 hours a day, all for free -
just help yourself!). I was employed as a Customer Service Representative,
which basically meant I sat on the end of a telephone keying orders for 7.5
hours a day. At the end of my first week I was given 12 dozen Stella for
being in the right place at the right time, so figured I could handle
talking on the telephone all day if this was one of the perks. I didn't
manage to get much rugby in 2006 as I prolapsed a disc in my back playing
squash at the start of the season, but did manage to get down to Hamilton
for a preseason match with Pookie (Gareth O'Laughlin) and the Pukekohe
boys.
At the end of 2006 I was transferred to Lion's Retail arm (Liquor King) and sent to be the Assistant Manager of Liquor King Whangarei. Wasn't that keen to head that far north (especially being a white fella), but figured if it could produce the likes of Harry Hawk it can't be all bad. When I arrived up there I was introduced to Gus Collins, who lined me up with the Kamo Rugby Club and the Northland Rugby Union. Kamo's colours are the same as Southern with the Black and White hoops, so it was pretty tough pulling the jersey on for the first time. We had a fairly average club season, winning some tough games and dropping the easy ones, finally coming in fifth. This was a fairly average result as 7 players from our starting forward pack went on to represent either Northland or the Northland B's. I was lucky enough to be selected in the Northland Air NZ Cup squad, but missed out on a contract. Still I made the Northland B team which was a real honour. We played the Otago B's on Okara Park at the start of August, with the Otago boys coming out victorious. The night after the match was a bit of a fail on my behalf. I was supposed to catch up with Chops and a few of the other boys after they had their team bonding session. Tragically, I drank a bit to much at our own after match, combined with being shagged after a tough game, I went home and crashed, failing to meet the boys and leaving them to their own devices in Whangarei.
Overall the Taniwha B rep season was a bit of a disaster, played 7 lost 7 (including getting flogged by Canterbury by 80), but boy did we keep it social. With 20 minutes to go in the last game of the season against Tasman I felt my back go again. I played through it as it felt like it would be my last game of rugby, and the subsequent visit to the surgeon revealed I could either have the operation now and possibly play again, or be pumped full of epidural every 3 months until I decided to hang up the boots. I decided to have the operation and went under the knife in late Feb this year. This coincided with another transfer with Lion/LK and found myself managing Liquor King Birkenhead on the North Shore in Auckland. Natalie was already working in Auckland, so it was good to be living in the same place again.
The operation on my back was successful but meant that rugby this year was out, but I managed to scam a place representing Otago rugby once again, this time playing for the NZ Fire Service Otago team in the tournament in Napier. The body for the most part pulled throug, but the lungs were uselss. Was great catching up with all the Habour boys again it it didn't take long for the old combinations to come back. Three days and nights of SOLID drinking interspersed with some Rugby was a hoot (roll on the tourny in Aucks next year).
Nat and I brought a house in Henderson in August this year, so yep we are official Westies! Our street has been closed twice since we moved in as one of the neighbours houses is used as a set for the show. We are currently in the process of putting in a retaining wall so if you have any skills or suggestions please drop me a line (you will be paid in beer if your services are utilised).
And that's about it. Still miss the brothers and the harbour hawks
community (but not training in the snow at Ravy). If you are in Auckland,
give me a buzz, am always keen for a beer.
Cheers
Mark
Millertime
Sticks