Burleigh captain and premiership winner TJ Miller joins player-coach Dylan Sherriff at Bonogin Valley

BONOGIN Valley have struck another major blow in their quest for Cricket Gold Coast success with the signing of a Kookaburra Cup premiership winner.

BONOGIN Valley have struck another major blow in their quest for Cricket Gold Coast success with the signing of Burleigh captain TJ Miller.

Two weeks after securing Helensvale Pacific Pines all-rounder Dylan Sherriff as player-coach for the next two seasons, Bonogin have added Miller to their fast-bowling ranks while he will also serve as Sherriff’s assistant.

A key figure in the Bullsharks’ maiden Kookaburra Cup premiership in 2017-18, the 27-year-old collected 31 first grade wickets at 15.06 last season, including 5- 37 in his side’s semi-final loss to Broadbeach Robina.

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He and Sherriff will be joined in Bonogin’s inaugural third grade outfit by Gold Coast Dolphins fast bowler Matt Phillips, while Miller’s younger brother, Daley, is also believed to be weighing up a move to Davenport Park.

Burleigh captain TJ Miller has joined Bonogin Valley. Picture: Jason O'Brien

After 10 years at Burleigh, Miller said he simply needed “something fresh and exciting”.

“I thought it was time for a totally different challenge. At Burleigh I’ve done everything I can in terms of my capabilities,” Miller, a father of two girls, said.

“I had a few meetings with a couple of different clubs and they were all great offers. If it was about money I’d be at a different club.

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“I went to the (Bonogin) meeting with Dylan Sherriff and Jake Savage (president) with the intention of saying ‘thanks for thinking about me but no thanks’. I didn’t want to go back (to third grade) with the stage I’m at with my cricket but they just blew me away.

“The meeting was meant to go for half an hour and I ended up being there for two hours. There’s a three-year plan to be in the first grade competition anyway so that puts me back in first grade at 30.

Miller in action for Burleigh in the 2017-18 Kookaburra Cup grand final. Picture: Glenn Hampson

“I want to get into the coaching and these guys offered the assistant coaching role. It was more just the excitement of starting a new opportunity and Bonogin just suits my lifestyle with the kids.”

The addition of Miller, Sherriff, Phillips and potentially others has given berth to the possibility of Bonogin taking the leap to second grade next season, but a decision will not be made until the campaign draws closer.

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“We have had a few chats about it,” Miller said.

“Do we have a strong enough squad for twos? Probably, but you have to look at the long-term growth of the club.

“It’d be nice but I think at this stage we’d have to sacrifice a year and be dominant in threes and go up steadily. It gives us another 12 months to seek funding from Queensland Cricket (for a turf wicket) and all that sort of stuff.”