Jacob Miller joins Castleford Tigers

Castleford Tigers are thrilled to confirm the signing of half-back Jacob Miller for the 2023 Betfred Super League season on a three-year contract!

The Tigers recruitment news is proudly brought to you and sponsored by the club’s official recruitment partner ORB Recruitment.

The 30-year-old began his career at the Scholarship level at his hometown club Sydney Roosters before being picked up by Wests Tigers, where he went on to make his professional debut back in 2011.

After three seasons in the NRL, Miller decided to make the jump across to Super League, initially with Hull FC for a two-year stint before establishing himself as one of the league’s standout halves at Wakefield Trinity, with a deadly accurate right boot, strong passing and running game, combined with a commanding nature in the middle of the pitch.

Miller has served Trinity incredibly well since joining the club in 2015, registering 200 match appearances and scoring; 62 tries, 17 goals and 10 drop goals, and has served brilliantly as Wakefield’s captain since 2019.

In 2022, ‘Milky’ has had another strong season and proved to be pivotal in Wakefield’s Super League survival. Back in June, he ended a seven-game losing run by nailing a crucial golden-point drop-goal against Hull FC to boost their fight at the bottom of the table. Then in July, Castleford fans will be fully aware of how good of a performance the half-back had at The Jungle, earning him the Man of the Match award as Trinity ended the Fords’ seven-year winning run in the local derby.

During the summer Miller was named as a starting half for the Combined Nations All Stars side which took on England in a mid-season international too, lining up with his future teammates Kenny Edwards & Mahe Fonua.

After his switch to the Fords had been completed, Miller began by proclaiming his excitement to get started at Wheldon Road.

“I am really excited, and I am glad to be here. I can’t wait to meet all of my new teammates and get started for next season!” Miller told castlefordtigers.com.

“I’m obviously moving to a cross-town rival but the team and the squad that we are building for next year is really exciting. It’s probably the main thing that attracted me to come here. I will also be linking up with some familiar faces that I have played with before and been coached by before, that is another thing I am really looking forward to.”

The paths of Castleford Head Coach Lee Radford and Miller have crossed before in 2014 during the stand-off’s final year at the Black & Whites. Miller will also be reunited with Tigers Assistant Coach Andy Last after the pair had a spell at Wakefield together as well as reconnecting with the likes of Joe Westerman.

When asked about the prospect of linking back up with some familiar faces, Miller outlined that it was a major factor in deciding to join the Tigers and mentioned a couple of current Fords stars who he is relishing the opportunity to run out with.

“I spent a good year with Radders at Hull FC and got on with him really well, unfortunately it didn’t work out at the time, but I am looking forward to linking back up with him again.

“I spoke to Westy (Joe Westerman) a lot about making the move and he told me that it is a great place to play. It will be nice to be on the other side of the support for once because it is a pretty hostile place to come and play especially when you play for Wakefield. I’ll be glad to have that crowd on my side for once.

“Westy helped a lot in terms of me making the decision to come here and he’s definitely someone I can’t wait to be linking up with again. We played some good rugby together over the last few seasons at Wakefield and it will be nice to jump back on board with him again.

“Plus, the way that McShane can control a game is something I’m looking to benefit from and Kenny Edwards on that edge is someone I’m looking forward to trying to create a nice partnership with.”

Switching to a new team is always a big commitment, especially after representing a club for an extended period of time. This certainly applies to Miller who switches to Castleford after seven years at Belle Vue and put forward that he is appreciative of his time there but also affirmed that he felt that the time was right for a fresh challenge.

“It was a tough decision because Wakefield has played a big part in my journey over here and I’ve got nothing but good things to say about the place. I am grateful for everything they have done for me, and it was a decision I didn’t take lightly. It was a great place for me but at the same time, I am looking forward to the new challenge.

“I had been at the same club for so long, so a change is probably what I needed. The fresh change and a fresh start is something that I needed to take and I am looking forward to doing that.”

In closing, Castleford’s new half-back laid out his goals and aims for the upcoming campaign and added his message to the Fords faithful who will be giving him their full backing in 2023 and beyond.

“I hope I can come in and make the team better. I want to do my job and help the people around me play better; I think that’s one thing I can help with. Radders likes to play an expansive style and he encourages his halves to play with their eyes up, which is something I think I can fall into.

“Just keep supporting the team and I hope we can go on and have a successful year next year and do the fans proud.”

Miller’s first stint working under Fords Head Coach Radford came back in 2014 when a young Miller was in the early stages of adapting to life and the game here in the UK. The Aussie has now flourished into one Super League’s best halves and the Tigers’ boss is eagerly anticipating the chance to work with him again.

“He’s a blow torch at half-back. At that point in his career at FC he was a 19-year-old half-back who came over with a reputation of getting the team around the field and I don’t think at that stage of his career that kind of pressure should have been applied to him.

“I’ve stayed in touch with Jacob over the years and off the field I have always got on with him. I said to him four or five years ago that I’m pleased to see the player that he has developed into, and how far he has come since being that fresh-faced novice.

“To get the opportunity to work with him again at this stage in his career, I think he will be great for Castleford Tigers. He was the captain of Wakefield for a number of years, so he’ll bring that vocal side and off the field, he’s going to bring a lot. On the field, he will bring an enormous amount because of his organization and the skill with his kicking game it’s probably an area that we’ve highlighted that we can be better at.”

Castleford Tigers fans can see Jacob Miller, along with our fellow 2023 recruits Muizz Mustapha and Albert Vete in First Team action by signing up for a 2023 Membership!

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