Nineteen-year-old Jordan Miller made an unexpected return to Fiji in 2022, this time as a member of the Vodafone Fiji Bati rugby league team. Initially visiting Fiji with the Australian schoolboys, Miller’s recent experiences mark a significant milestone in his rugby league career.
Born in Australia to a father from Savusavu, Miller expressed his excitement about training alongside senior players and NRL stars whom he has looked up to, including Tui Kamikamica, Maika Sivo, and Viliame Kikau. He credited coach Waisake Kativerata for the opportunity that led to his debut for the Bati, starting the game from the bench.
“I’ve always wanted to play for Fiji,” Miller stated. He mentioned that training alongside established players felt surreal. “It’s pretty crazy that I’m training with them. I didn’t think it would come this early, but I’m grateful for the opportunity to come here. It means a lot.”
Over the past week, Miller has noted valuable lessons learned from the team’s culture. “Everything’s good – we have devotion twice a day. There’s a lot of energy, so the camp’s never down; it’s a fun camp to be in.”
In addition to his involvement with the Bati, Miller signed a three-year contract with the Tigers this year, making his NRL debut in Round 15 against the Titans, where the Tigers secured an 18-10 victory. He was also recognized as the player’s player and best and fairest player at the Wests Magpies Harold Matthews Cup U17s during their Junior Representative Award night in September 2022.