Lachie Miller

[Jono078]

Agreed K-man. His passing has been quite good and is getting better. He can draw and pass or do the quick tip-on.

For all his terrible mistakes that I think some are overstating, I think it comes down to the simple question - have or have we not been better for having him in this team?

Like I stated previously, if he misses a game I think we'll then realise how much we miss what he does bring to the team.

I'm sure he'll continue to have some questionable decision/actions but I'm also pretty positive he'll continue to offer us great value.

 

[Yosh]

He might cost us the game in the finals perhaps but he will be one of the main reasons we get to the finals in the first place. He tries his butt off not just every game but every minute of every game. Hard not to like the fella.

 

[perverse]

Agreed K-man. His passing has been quite good and is getting better. He can draw and pass or do the quick tip-on.

For all his terrible mistakes that I think some are overstating, I think it comes down to the simple question - have or have we not been better for having him in this team?

Like I stated previously, if he misses a game I think we'll then realise how much we miss what he does bring to the team.

I'm sure he'll continue to have some questionable decision/actions but I'm also pretty positive he'll continue to offer us great value.

Oh we're certainly a better side with him, I didn't really intend to argue otherwise. What I see at least is that I think we may have won another game or two this year already if he only brought the good stuff without the bad. If he can cut out all the yuck stuff - and as I've repeatedly stated I'm backing him to do it - then I think we're in a really good spot with him.

 

[mozza91]

No room for nuance or legitimate criticisms about a player, either you think he's perfect or you want Tex Hoy back.

He isn’t perfect and I’m not suggesting it but calling him an absolute hazard, or suggesting parts of his game are SG Ball level is absurd.

He was rocks and diamonds on the weekend but he was very good in each of the first 4 Rounds. He’s been as good as any fullback in the comp over the the first 5 Rounds and people are finding holes in his game that aren’t there.

 

[The Axe of Druss]

Communicating with wingers is an easy fix. Letting the ball bounce and not attacking bombs is a bit more concerning.

To be fair they are both easy fixes and generally come down to confidence

He comes from Rugby 7s where its generally accepted to not be getting to kicks on the full and the added space means its very seldom more than 1 player is contesting a kick. General rule of thumb is the player coming onto the ball has the catch but it should be clearly communicated.

Like others have said, Im backing the kid to fix it

 

[PhilGould]

He isn’t perfect and I’m not suggesting it but calling him an absolute hazard, or .

He was rocks and diamonds on the weekend but he was very good in each of the first 4 Rounds. He’s been as good as any fullback in the comp over the the first 5 Rounds and

"calling him an absolute hazard"
Again, no one has.

"suggesting parts of his game are SG Ball level is absurd"
Letting bombs bounce or putting your winger under more pressure isn't first grade standard. Doesn't mean he hasn't been very good in other areas.

"people are finding holes in his game that aren’t there."
We're all watching the same games, why do you think people are trying to make up reasons to dislike him? No examples of issues we've raised have been intangible, it's all stuff you can go back and watch yourself.

In my first comment in this thread I complimented multiple aspects of his game, and in the second one I said he’s a very good attacking fullback. Pointing out that he has also been shaky at the other half of the game isn’t unreasonable, nor is it nitpicking.

 

[perverse]

He isn’t perfect and I’m not suggesting it but calling him an absolute hazard, or suggesting parts of his game are SG Ball level is absurd.

He was rocks and diamonds on the weekend but he was very good in each of the first 4 Rounds. He’s been as good as any fullback in the comp over the the first 5 Rounds and people are finding holes in his game that aren’t there.

How often do you see the SG Ball kids run into each other taking regulation bombs? It's not an absurd statement when he's doing things worse than kids at that level. Calling for the footy and not running into one of their wingers is something every park footy coach just expects from their fullback by default.

How about just letting a backrower stroll over the line completely unchallenged? I don't think I've ever seen that at any level of rugby league.

He's an asset to the team, but be real. He's getting completely lost out there at times at a level way way way below the expectations at this (and lower!) forms of the game. Some of it is experience, some of it is confidence, but he needs to sort it out because it's very costly every time. I don't see why any of this is controversial. He's a talent, but he's gotta get that stuff right too. Top teams will eat him (and us) alive if it stays in his game.

And just to add again like... we're all rooting for him as far as I can see. I love his enthusiasm and ability with the ball in hand. I think what he's getting wrong is fixable - or at least it should be. Reading defences is a "fixable" thing too, but some players just don't seem to stick with some lessons. I'll back him to get it all sorted this year though.

 

[mozza91]

That 1st try granted was a terrible effort but it was something I doubt we’ll ever see again. The communication taking the bombs thing has happened a couple of times on Sunday and is an easy fix. I think only getting a few weeks preseason with a new team might be responsible for that as much as anything else.

I’ve been really impressed with his positional play particularly off short kicks. He has been miles ahead of what I expected.

Maybe I’m getting defensive but Jesus it’s nice to have a guy at the back who is all effort and wants to be in everything.

 

[Burwood]

Come on guys, let’s all agree that we should get back to focusing on the normal whipping boys- Fitz and Mann.

 

[perverse]

The communication taking the bombs thing has happened a couple of times on Sunday and is an easy fix.

He's done it in 2 seperate games now. 2 of 5. I dunno how it wasn't rectified after the first one, I guess is my point.

Very much agree on his effort though. It's refreshing.

 

[PhilGould]

Did it to Gamble off a kick off late in the Dolphins game too which actually did cause an error

 

[aqua_duck]

He isn’t perfect and I’m not suggesting it but calling him an absolute hazard, or suggesting parts of his game are SG Ball level is absurd.

He was rocks and diamonds on the weekend but he was very good in each of the first 4 Rounds. He’s been as good as any fullback in the comp over the the first 5 Rounds and people are finding holes in his game that aren’t there.

Errors get made but there are some errors that really makes the mind boggle sometimes (I’m not talking about miller specifically), the term schoolboy error is often used and some of his errors have been of that nature, that’s not to suggest he’s SG Ball level in any regard but more so some of his errors are stuff you wouldn’t even see at SG Ball level such as putting kick offs out on the full or not knowing where your own try line is. Look I get it, he’s the shiny new toy that people don’t want to admit has some issues but truthfully how can you say there aren’t any holes there when we’ve literally laid them out to you.
One of the only reasons we’re highlighting the errors is because he’s been so good in other facets and so there is that rocks and diamonds effect.

 

[mozza91]

Did it to Gamble off a kick off late in the Dolphins game too which actually did cause an error

Fair enough. I left before it happened and missed it.

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

"‘Oh, this is not good’: Knights star’s hilarious response after all-time Manly blunder

Knights fullback Lachie Miller has opened up on his disastrous blunder against the Sea Eagles which saw Haumole Olakau’atu score untouched in bizarre fashion.

The 28-year-old Sevens convert has been one of Newcastle’s best players after making an off-season move from the Sharks, but delivered one moment he’d love to forget.

Olakau’atu charged through the Knights line in the 3rd minute, with only Miller to beat to open the scoring in Mudgee.

The Knights fullback clearly lost his bearings, defending on the dead-ball line before the bustling backrower simply grounded the ball at his feet without being challenged.

Fox League’s Matty Johns explained Miller was advocating for a new rule to be introduced that states fullbacks don’t have to tackle backrowers, especially those the size of Olakau’atu.

“You want to bring in a new rule I know, that if a backrower makes a break you don’t have to tackle him, you can just let him score,’ Johns said.

“I spoke to Peter V’landys and he obviously was considering it.”

“If you actually watch it, I am actually letting him know where to score just in case he didn’t actually know,” Miller said.

Fox League’s Nathan Hindmarsh was bamboozled watching the replay and asked what was going through the former Olympian’s head.

“Honestly, I’ve got no idea,” Miller replied.

“Have you seen the size of Olakau’atu? I wouldn’t want to tackle him either,” Fox League’s Bryan Fletcher said.

While the joke was clearly on Miller, he initially thought Olakau’atu had made a huge mistake by grounding the ball on the 10-metre line and even laughed at his opponent.

“I thought he’d stuffed up to be honest, I thought this bloke has just put it down 10 metres short,” Miller said.

“And then I looked around and thought, ‘oh, this is not good’.”

Hindmarsh also revealed Miller got a lift home from Johns after both his sons, Cooper and Jack, faced off for the first time.

Miller didn’t pull any punches and said the drive through the NSW countryside was simply “terrifying”.

“I didn’t really want to say anything because I was pretty happy to get a lift home, but I was terrified,” Miller said.

“His driving skills aren’t the greatest are they,” Fletcher said.

“Trish (Matty’s wife) have me the front and said ‘I’m going to have a lay down in the back’ and I was sort of like holding on.

“I tried to have a nap and every (few minutes), (he went) hey, hey... talking about his young blokes, he spoke about the grand final he won a few times.

“Hey Lachie, I’m right here brother,” Johns replied."

Source: www.foxsports.com.au

 

[Yosh]

Wanna post here before others come and hammer the bloke. 2 real bad mistakes/errors of judgement but another great game from the lad. He will only improve as the year goes on and his goal kicking has been a great addition. Good work lad!

 

[Jono078]

I actually think this was his most average game for us to date. Well last week was bad but he had some real big positive impact. Today I don't think he did too much for us in attack and returning the ball.

Supporting Dom Young was great stuff for our big break but other than that I don't think I remember him doing too much.

Anyway not here to criticise him. There's obvious areas we can identify where improvement has to be made. A lot of it is awareness and situational stuff, so there may be growing pains along the way.

 

[Spot On]

Wanna post here before others come and hammer the bloke. 2 real bad mistakes/errors of judgement but another great game from the lad. He will only improve as the year goes on and his goal kicking has been a great addition. Good work lad!

Hammer him???

He was f**king outstanding again.

 

[Loose Cannon]

I’ll cop 2 errors from Miller, as long as he gives us 4 results that Pearce couldn’t match.

 

[Wizardman]

Im on the Miller cheerssquad as well.....but most of you refer to him as a "kid". While he is very inexperienced in rugby league, the guy is actually 28.

What I like about him is that he does not go into his shell when he f**ks up. That is a great quality in him. I'd back him and put Ponga at 6.

 

[aqua_duck]

As mentioned previously, if he can just get rid of the SKD type errors in his game he can be a top line fullback. Really can’t fault him in the effort areas and his support play which is a massive contrast to Ponga.