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Michael Neil

  • Playing Career

Playing Career

Vital Statistics

Born
Wednesday, 29th April, 1964
Current Age
61 years and 339 days

Honours & Awards

Based only on data available in the RLP database. This information should be used as a guide only.

Midweek Cup
1987
Challenge Cup AU
1992

Known Family Links

Brother
Craig Neil
Alan Neil

Biography

Wests junior, a wiry competitor at five-eighth or half, made up for his lack of pace with a never-say-die attitude. Neil played in consecutive grand final losses with the Tigers but almost snatched victory in 1989 when he was ankle-tapped by Mal Meninga when he looked set to score. Neil’s career looked to be in decline when he switched to the Steelers but his whole-hearted efforts saw him snare a first grade position just prior to the club’s entry into the semi-finals. Neil's big-match experience held the club in good stead during the 1992 semi-final series but he then left the club to play a season with Salford in England. He ended his career with the Tigers during the club's wooden spoon season in 1994.
- ALAN WHITICKER

Playing Career Statistics

All statistics shown in this section are based only on data available in the RLP database, and are not necessarily a complete and/or 100% accurate representation of a player's career. This information should be used as a guide only. If you see a question mark (?), it denotes that the figure is not available.

To view a list of corresponding matches, click on the List button.

Tour Matches Illawarra Steelers - 1 - -   - - 0 1 0 0.00% List
Club Career - Australia   Comp Wins App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
NSWRFL/NSWRL Premiership (NRL) - 168 26 -   - 104 81 82 5 48.21% List
NSWRFL/NSWRL Finals - 11 - -   - - 6 5 0 54.55% List
Midweek Cup 1 10 2 -   - 8 7 3 0 70.00% List
Challenge Cup AU 1 6 - -   - - 4 2 0 66.67% List
Club Career - UK   Comp Wins App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
English Championship - 9 1 -   - 4 2 7 0 22.22% List
UK Top Division - 9 1 -   - 4 2 7 0 22.22% List
Overall   App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
First Class 188 29 -   - 116 96 98 5 51.06% List

NSWRFL/NSWRL Premiership (NRL) - By Year

Team Season   App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Western Suburbs NSWRFL 1983   5 1 -   - 4 1 3 1 20.00% List
Western Suburbs NSWRL 1984   13 1 -   - 4 0 13 0 0.00% List
Western Suburbs NSWRL 1985   20 3 -   - 12 4 14 2 20.00% List
Western Suburbs NSWRL 1986   10 2 -   - 8 3 6 1 30.00% List
Balmain NSWRL 1987   15 2 -   - 8 9 6 0 60.00% List
Balmain NSWRL 1988   24 3 -   - 12 17 7 0 70.83% List
Balmain NSWRL 1989   23 4 -   - 16 16 6 1 69.57% List
Balmain NSWRL 1990   18 7 -   - 28 14 4 0 77.78% List
Balmain NSWRL 1991   5 1 -   - 4 2 3 0 40.00% List
Illawarra NSWRL 1992   12 - -   - - 6 6 0 50.00% List
Illawarra NSWRL 1993   11 2 -   - 8 7 4 0 63.64% List
Balmain NSWRL 1994   12 - -   - - 2 10 0 16.67% List

NSWRFL/NSWRL Premiership (NRL) - By Team

Team Years   App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Western Suburbs 1983-86   48 7 -   - 28 8 36 4 16.67% List
Balmain 1987-91, 1994   97 17 -   - 68 60 36 1 61.86% List
Illawarra 1992-93   23 2 -   - 8 13 10 0 56.52% List
Overall1983-1994   168 26 0   0 104 81 82 5 48.21% List

English Career - By Year

Team Season   App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Salford 1993/94   9 1 -   - 4 2 7 0 22.22% List

English Career - By Team

Team Years   App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Salford 1993   9 1 -   - 4 2 7 0 22.22% List

Your Say

  • graham parker
    13 Jan 2012 6:32pm

    a very good player in his day, with a professional attitude, who always gave 100%, and also one of the nicest blokes you will ever meet.

  • Anonymous
    16 Apr 2014 7:17pm

    Michael Neil was a very elusive and durable footballer on the field.He is now very elusive walking down the street,due to his jet black hair.Yeah Yeah

  • Dean Felber
    21 Nov 2015 6:46pm

    the best boot lace defensive player I have ever seen.unlucky not to win a premiership 88 89 for Balmain.any young Wests tiger trying to improve there game take a leaf out of Micky Niels book the man is a legend who often gets left behind bye the bigger names but without players that like that Balmain tigers may not have ever made two grand finals back to back.

  • Anonymous
    14 Sep 2018 7:29pm

    Loved watching this guy player, no more than 75kg soaking wet, but played well above that. stood offside and tackled anything that moved.

  • Anonymous
    5 Apr 2019 2:18pm

    Played well above his weight. Brilliant in his Balmain days

  • Fletch
    25 Mar 2025 12:02pm

    I followed Manly back in the day & always admired Mick Neill.How he got through so many games I dont know but the bloke was a champion.His brother Alan went ok too.Hope the little bloke is going well & thanks for the great memories Mick.

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Contributions: Rugby League Tables, Paul Carter, AJ Lucantonio, Greg Fiveash, Shawn Dollin, Andrew Ferguson, Alan Katzmann, Max Turner

Sources: David Middleton's Rugby League Yearbook (1987-88 to present), Match Video, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook (1981-82 to 1999), Irvin Saxton's Record Keepers' Club