Lachlan Miller was already an Olympian and has now shown off his supreme ability as a sportsman on the NRL stage, firing as the Sharks ground out a 25-18 over the Titans on the Gold Coast on Sunday.
The Tokyo Games rugby sevens speedster turned out for his NRL debut and, playing at fullback, racked up 201 run metres, 10 tackle busts and a long-range try.
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“It was good. Geez, it was quick,” Miller said of the game in a Nine interview.
“My family was up there (in the crowd). Couldn’t ask for a better result in the end, and to score a try was pretty special.”
The 27-year-old’s crowning moment arrived when he pounced on a Jayden Campbell kick in the 54th minute.
After the Gold Coast livewire put up a high ball that hit the deck, Miller cleaned it up about 65 metres out, pierced a gaping Titans defence and streaked away to score.
Rugby convert gets try on NRL debut
“I got the ball and cramped instantly, my calves, and I just thought, ‘I have to try to get there’,” Miller said with a laugh.
Miller filled in for suspended fullback Will Kennedy, who was serving a two-game ban for a coathanger tackle on Warriors youngster Reece Walsh in round nine.
Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon might have a challenge on his hands as he tries to fit both Kennedy and Williams into his side for the Sharks’ next game, against the Roosters on Saturday.
Nicho Hynes was shifted from halfback to fullback for Magic Round, before Fitzgibbon returned Hynes to the No.7 jumper and handed Miller his NRL debut.
Miller said rugby league, not rugby sevens, was his first love.
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“I grew up in the frontyard playing rugby league and I joined in the under-10s,” he said.
“It was always a dream of mine to play NRL. Obviously it just wasn’t the (right) time. I was a bit younger and a bit smaller, it was pretty hard.
“I found rugby sevens, which was really good. It was a good stepping stone for me. It was fast, it was really good.
“And then to get the chance from Fitzy and (Sharks general manager of football) Darren Mooney – I just jumped at it.
“To be honest, it’s been the best eight months of my life, and to get this debut has been really special.”
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