Leeds Rhinos turned a game that had been billed as a 50/50 match into a comfortable 34-6 win on Thursday night against Warrington Wolves thanks in large part due to the return of star full-back Lachie Miller, who has rightfully drawn plenty of praise.
It was telling that despite Maika Sivo scoring yet another hat-trick, the Fijian winger did pick up the man of the match medal, which was instead reserved for Miller, who returned to the frame after a three-game ban.
Leeds performed fine without their speedy number one, winning all three matches and by a comfortable margin as youngster Fergus McCormack stepped in, however, the return of Miller made it clear just how good he is and just how far he can help take the Rhinos this year.
It’s telling that even after three games out, Miller remains firmly in the top five for metres made in Super League with over 2,100, 169 of which came on Thursday in what Sky Sports pundit Jon Wilkin described as a ‘stand-out good’ performance.
Wilkin waxed lyrical: “He made the mundane interesting and the really conservative moments in the game feel exciting.”
Host Brian Carney posited that the 31-year-old is the ‘greatest point of difference in Leeds Rhinos’ attack’. a huge statement considering that they boast the reigning Man of Steel and a former Man of Steel in their halves, as well as a winger with 25 tries in just 12 games.
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Why Leeds Rhinos’ Lachie Miller is so good
It wasn’t just Carney holding that opinion though as former two-time Man of Steel winner and arguably one of the greatest-ever Super League full-backs in Sam Tomkins agreed
Tomkins argued: “I think the way that he gets excited with space, every time when there’s an error or there’s a bit of a loose play, not real loads of structure, you can see his eyes light up. He wants the ball. He’s a natural.
“He’s coming from a sevens background, where it’s all about time and space. You can tell how much he really enjoys that part of it.”
In a sport where so many teams drill discipline and structure, Miller plays outside of that structure in a way that makes him near impossible to defend, rarely taking the easy option but almost always making the right decision, something he didn’t necessarily do in his first season in England.
Tomkins explained: “He’s very, very skillful. It’s brilliant being able to see these opportunities but be able to execute the pass with the accuracy.”
Wilkin added: “What’s exciting about Lachie Miller for me is his anticipation, his rugby instincts. He’s got a high rugby IQ.
“Sam’s right that he gets excited about space, but you need execution, and I think he’s found a level of composure with that, hasn’t he, under Brad Arthur?”
With that execution now nailed down, Miller presents a threat that few other players in Super League have in terms of his combination of elusiveness and creativity, evidenced by 12 assists in 12 games, and ahead of a crunch clash with Hull KR, it’s fair to say Leeds have got their secret weapon back in fine form.
