Leeds Rhinos' Lachie Miller reveals secret to 'playing my best rugby' ahead of Las Vegas game v Hull KR

Alongside half-backs Brodie Croft and Jake Connor, Miller will be a key player for Rhinos when they face Hull KR in Las Vegas tomorrow (Saturday) and - after an epic week building up to the match - he is raring to go. “I feel really good,” he told the Yorkshire Evening Post.

“As a spine, I think we have built each week. If you look back at last season, I think every game we played together we built and got a better understanding of each other. We had a good understanding last week against York; we were all very calm and when Jake and Brodie are on the field I feel much more relaxed. I don’t feel like I have to over-play and that’s when I play my best footy. I feel really good, really excited and ready to go on Saturday.”

Though he was sixth in the Man of Steel voting two seasons ago and fourth last term, when he was Rhinos’ fans’ player of the year, Miller is still relatively inexperienced as a rugby league player and feels his best is yet to come. “I think there’s a lot more for me to get to, with my selection and reading of the game - stuff like that,” the former rugby union sevens star said.

“I have got to keep working on those little things, but I feel if I can build the backbone of my game on my defence, organising the team and build my game from there, it will be in a good position.”

Rhinos were having a look around Allegiant Stadium today (Friday) before tomorrow’s match which kicks off at 4pm local time, midnight in the UK. On Thursday they were the first of Rugby League in Vegas’ six competing clubs to walk the red carpet during a Fan Fest which attracted a 16,000 crowd to the Fremont Street Experience.

“It’s really cool, very special and we’re honoured to be part of it,” Miller said of the reception all the players have received in the USA. “The week has really reminded me of what rugby sevens is like, they have events like these to thank the fans for coming out, but this is on another level.”

After all the fan interaction, Rhinos are about to get down to business, but Miller stressed the fans’ support is a big part of what they are trying to achieve. “We have come here to do our job and we want to perform,” he stated. “We are coming up against the best in the world and if you can’t get up for that, you can’t get up for a game.

“But at the same time, these guys [fans] have put in such an effort to come and watch us and without them we don’t have a game. They give us so much back home so we want to give back to them. It does give us a little bit extra.”

For Miller, the week in Nevada has been an opportunity to catch up with old mates from his previous club Newcastle Knights. They play North Queensland Cowboys in Saturday’s second game and Miller said: “I’ve seen a couple of them around. They were at the gym on Wednesday when we were so it was good to say hello to everyone. They are all good people, so it was good to see them.”

But rubbing shoulders with NRL players hasn’t left Miller feeling homesick. In October he signed a new deal keeping him at Rhinos until the end of 2027, with an option for a further year and there are no regrets. He said: “When we came to Leeds my daughter was about three months old so she has been raised in Leeds and everyone in the city has been so good to me and my family. I really want to give something back. Hopefully this is the year to do that.”

The Yorkshire Evening Post’s coverage of Leeds Rhinos in Las Vegas is in association with Betfred Super League. Saturday’s showdown between Rhinos and Hull KR at Allegiant Stadium is an early highlight of a packed year of club rugby league action which also includes the Challenge Cup final at Wembley on May 30, Magic Weekend’s blockbuster return to Everton FC’s Hill Dickinson Stadium on July 4-5 and the Super League Grand Final on October 3 at Old Trafford. Experience live Super League. League Hits Different. To guarantee your place, visit Super League | Tickets.