‘What the hell?’: Lachlan Miller’s bizarre ‘never seen before’ blunder

Fullback Lachlan Miller has been one of Newcastle’s brightest stars in 2023 but he’s made a blunder more likely seen in park footy.

Lachlan Miller would have wanted that again. Photo: Fox Sports

Knights fullback Lachie Miller has been a revelation in 2023 for Newcastle, but he would definitely have wanted one moment again.

In a wild match which saw 12 tries between Newcastle and Manly, it ended in a 32-all draw, the first since the Panthers and Knights in round 3, 2020.

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It was an epic clash in front of a packed house in Mudgee with the sides unable to be separated after 90 minutes of action.

But back in the fourth minute of action, Miller had a horror moment on the first try of the day as Manly’s Haumole Olakau’atu barged his way to the line.

Getting the ball on the halfway line after some second phase play, the second rower spun out of three tackles and thundered to the line to score.

Fullbacks in the NRL have pulled off some spectacular saves already this season, generally as the last line of defence to deny an opposition line break.

Bizarrely, Miller was back at fullback and in cover but didn’t make a play on the hulking Sea Eagle.

Outside of that, he didn’t do much else wrong. Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

While there are few people who would want to take on a rampaging Olakau’atu, it appeared that Miller thought he still had 10m to play with.

Sports reporter Adam Hawse tweeted: “Never seen something like this before. Lachie Miller appears to confuse which one is tryline.”

AAP’s Fraser Barton added: “First time for everything. Lachie Miller mistakes deadfall line for try line and Olakau’atu scores.”

Erm, what was Lachlan Miller doing there? #NRLManlyKnights

— Tim Barrow (@TheBarrow) April 1, 2023

What was Lachie Miller doing?! #nrlmanlyknights

— Michael Atkinson (@kinson88) April 1, 2023

What the hell was Lachie Miller doing there???

— The Mole (@9_Moley) April 1, 2023

Confirmed: Lachie Miller has Olakauatu in his SC team#nrlmanlyknights

— Ben (@senor_spindle) April 1, 2023

But while it was a disastrous start to the match, Miller made up for it in another brilliant performance.

Miller had the second most metres in the match at 266m, behind only his opposite number Tom Trbojevic at 278m.

He also had a line break assist and try assist as well as a massive 13 tackle breaks.

Earlier this week, Bryan Fletcher said Miller has been very impressive since switching from Rugby Sevens to rugby league.

“They (Newcastle) were very good, I thought Lachie Miller, this was his 11th game in first grade, what he has done in 11 games I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone do what he is doing,” Fletcher said on the Matty Johns Show.

“Ball-playing, he is known for his running but I think he set up (tries), he’s everywhere at fullback but now he has added a ball-playing string to his bow.”

The Knights tied it up but couldn’t take the win. Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

Knights winger Dominic Young scored four in the match, including the match tying try with two minutes remaining.

Desperately needing a try, Knights half Phoenix Crossland kicked for Young, who outleaped Reuben Garrick and slammed the ball down to send the match to extra-time.