Lachlan Miller, already an Olympian and now an athlete on the NRL stage, shot the Titans 25-18 at the Shark Ground on the Gold Coast on Sunday.
The Rugby Sevens Speedster of Tokyo Games turned out for its NRL debut and, playing at fullback, attempted 201 runs, 10 tackle busts and a long range.
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“It was good. Geez, it was fast,” Miller said of the game in an interview with Nine.
“My family was there (in the crowd). In the end I couldn’t ask for better results, and trying to score was quite special.”
The 27-year-old’s crowning moment came when he pounded Jaden Campbell’s kick in the 54th minute.
After placing a high ball hitting the Gold Coast Liveware deck, Miller clears it about 65 meters out, pierces an empty Titans defense and moves away to score.
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“I got the ball and instantly cramped, my calf, and I just thought, ‘I have to try to get there,'” Miller said with a smile.
Miller filled in for suspended Kennedy fullback Will Kennedy, who faced a two-game ban for Round Walsh’s young Reese Walsh in the Round Nine for a tackle.
Sharks could be a challenge in the hands of coach Craig Fitzgiben as he tries to fit both Kennedy and Williams in his favor for the Sharks’ next game against the Roosters on Saturday.
Nico Hynes was transferred from halfback to fullback for the magic round, before Fitzgerald returned Hynes to jumper number 7 and gave Miller his NRL debut.
Miller said rugby league, not rugby seven, was his first love.
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“I grew up on the front yard playing rugby league and I joined the under-10s,” he said.
“Playing NRL has always been my dream. Obviously it wasn’t the (right) time. I was a little younger and a little younger, it was pretty tough.
“I got the 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 a chance from Fitzgerald and (football shark general manager) Darren Mooney – I just jumped into it.
“Honestly, it’s been the best eight months of my life, and this debut was really special.”
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