Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Mike Anthony Eden | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1960-03-27)27 March 1960 (age 64) Sydney,New South Wales,Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 178 cm (5 ft 10 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 75 kg (11 st 11 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Fullback, Halfback, Five-eighth | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source:[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Relatives | Harry Eden (uncle) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mike Anthony Eden (born 27 March 1960[2]) is an Australian former professionalrugby league footballer who played in the 1980s. The slightly built Eden played forManly-Warringah,Eastern Suburbs,Parramatta and theGold Coast in theNSWRL premiership. Originally appearing in thehalves, he later played atfullback.
AManly junior who made his first grade debut for the Sea Eagles from the bench in Manly's 28–10 loss toPenrith atPenrith Park on 18 April 1981. Eden only played two first grade games for Manly in the1981 season, the other (also from the bench) saw the Sea Eagles come away with a 22–15 win overdefending premiersCanterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at Manly'sBrookvale Oval.
The1982 season saw Eden play 19 games for the Sea Eagles playing mostly at fullback due to the emergence of teenage halfbackPhil Blake and injury to champion Manly fullbackGraham Eadie. Eden would be the Sea Eagles top point scorer for the year (the first time since1972 that honour would go to a player other than Eadie), scoring 2 tries and 71 goals for 148 points. Eadie returned late in the season and resumed the fullback role with Eden missing the Sea Eagles run to the Grand Final where they ultimately lost 21–8 to Parramatta. During the season, Eden was named the player of the series in the1982 KB Cup won by Manly for the first time. Eden's form in 1982, plus his goal kicking and utility value saw his name touted as a possible selection for the1982 Kangaroo Tour of Great Britain and France. However, missing Manly's late season games and finals campaign would prove costly and he ultimately missed out on a place in theAustralian squad for theKangaroo Tour.
With Eadie back for the1983 NSWRFL season, Eden signed to play for Eastern Suburbs and would become the season's leading point scorer, scoring 256 points (12 tries, 103 goals, and 2 field goals). He also won the competition's Best and Fairest award, theRothmans Medal, in 1983.[3] Eden later said, "Manly eventually told me they weren't going to be able to go anywhere near what they were offering over at the Roosters, but that they’d still love me to stay. I just said, 'Look, you've offered me three grand, the Roosters have offered me 25 ... I'm newly married and got a kid on the way ... a university wage, help me out here.' So I signed with the Roosters.'[4]
After an injury interrupted1984 season where he scored 96 points (5 tries, 36 goals) playing only 13 games mostly at fullback orFive-eighth, he signed with Parramatta for the 1985 season.[3] He would spend 3 injuries interrupted seasons with the Eels, playing only 27 games for the club and like he had done in 1982 with Manly, he missed the Eels charge to the premiership in1986.[5][6]
Eden signed for new club the Gold Coast Giants in1988. That season saw him play 19 games for the club where he would be the team's leading point scorer with 79 points (1 try, 36 goals, 3 field goals) and had the honour of scoring the club's first ever try in their opening game of the season againstCanterbury-Bankstown. He played a further 12 games in1989 for the poorly performed Giants and was again their leading point scorer with 63 points (3 tries, 25 goals and 1 field goal) before announcing his retirement at the end of the season.
Mike Eden played 112 first grade games in his career. A player of rare ability who could kick both in general play and for goal with either feet with equal effectiveness, he scored a total of 701 points from 26 tries, 296 goals, and 7 field goals.
Eden's uncle,Harry Eden, was also a rugby league footballer, playing forSt George, Eastern Suburbs, andSouth Sydney clubs.
Eden currently works as a solicitor in Albury NSW and is also on the committee for theAlbury Thunder Rugby League Club in Group 9 Rugby League.