biography
| name: |
Murphy, Alex
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| |
popular name of Alexander James Murphy
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| sex:
| male
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| lived:
| (1939– )
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| biography:
| Rugby league player and coach, born in St Helens, Lancashire, NW England, UK. A scrum-half who signed professionally for St Helens on his 16th birthday, Murphy made his senior debut in 1956 and Great Britain debut in 1958, winning 27 caps. A brilliant, abrasive, controversial figure, he was credited with single-handedly changing the rules of the game: the reduction of the drop-goal to one point in 1974 was blamed on his mastery of the kick. He won every prize in league with St Helens, then enjoyed success as player-coach for Leigh (Challenge Cup winners in 1970–1) and Warrington (four trophies in 1973–4), captaining all three clubs to Challenge Cup wins. He was less successful as coach after he stopped playing in 1975, but won the championship with Leigh (1981–2). In 1988 he was elected a founder member of the Rugby League Hall of Fame. |
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