Wests Tigers are building an impressive stable of up-and-coming forwards, with Stefano Utoikamanu, Alex Seyfarth, Fonua Pole, Justin Matamua and Sione Fainu already on the books, but there’s another promising front-rower coming through the junior pathways who fans should look out for future.
His name is Jordan Miller.
The success of the UNE Harold Matthews Cup Western Suburbs Magpies side was one of the highlights of 2022 for club, and Miller has been a constant in the engine room during his two seasons (19 games) in the NSWRL’s Under 17s competition.
The Magpies finished the regular season unbeaten with seven wins and one draw, before taking out the Premiership with a 20-16 Semi-final win over the Canberra Raiders, and a dominant 42-16 victory against Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the Grand Final.
After a 2021 junior representative season where Miller missed just one game as the Magpies reached the Semi-finals, the young prop played all nine matches in 2022 with his team going one better to secure the trophy.
In that time Miller averaged 13 runs, 142 metres and 66 post-contact, scored five tries and set up two, produced two line-break assists, had 33 tackle busts, threw 10 offloads and made 168 tackles (18 per game).
Miller’s form was rewarded with a pair of respected accolades at the club’s Junior Representative Awards night in September. He was recognised as Players’ Player alongside fellow prop James Folaumotu’i and named Best and Fairest by the Magpies’ coaching staff.
Given Miller has now conquered the ultimate prize at Under 17s level, and also represented NSW City Under 18s in a 42-12 victory in 2022, Rugby League fans might see much more of this front row prospect as he makes his way through the grades.
