COOPER Jenkins and Lachie Miller may be team-mates on the field and friends off it, but that has not stopped him being among the Betfred Super League’s big men being left chasing shadows by the Leeds Rhinos fullback.
Miller has enjoyed a breakout season for the Rhinos in 2025 after some ups and downs in his first year after joining from NRL outfit Newcastle Knights, underlined by the former Australia rugby union sevens international being in the top 10 of the Man of Steel rankings before voting went dark.
He again showcased that as Leeds beat Super League leaders Hull KR 28-6 in Round 22 in a try-scoring performance which included making 165 metres and busting 15 tackles, per Stats Perform, and prop Jenkins knows just what it is like to be made to feel silly by the 5ft 11in, 14-stone back.
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Lachie Miller is something else 🤩@leedsrhinos are lively tonight 👀#SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/fNChNLZvfw
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) August 21, 2025
“You just can’t tackle him, can you?” Jenkins told the Leeds Rhinos Podcast. “He’s zipping around everywhere and he’s just a freak, man.
“Everything is just going his way at the moment and I hope he keeps doing it.
“Lachie is like that at training. When you switch into the bibs team and do a kick-chase and he’s there, you’re always watching his step.
“He’s short and nimble and he’s real strong and stocky, so he throws you off-guard.”
Miller is Super League’s leading metre-making heading into Round 24 of the regular season, with 3,571 racked up at an average gain of 8.54 metres per carry.
His 160 tackle busts are the most by any player in the competition so far this season as well, while he also has 14 clean breaks, and has come up with nine tries and eight assists.
Miller has been playing an important role off the field too, though, helping Jenkins settle into life on these shores after the former Knights reserve-grade forward joined Leeds from Queensland Cup side Norths Devils ahead of this season.
“It helped me settle in, especially when I first moved here,” Jenkins said.
“I knew him roughly from when we were at the Knights and he’s good.
“Him and his partner were cooking me dinners here and there, and they’ve been good.
“I still go over there sometimes and we always hang out. He’s a good fella.”
Jenkins has made 19 appearances for the Rhinos so far, although has not played since the win over Leigh Leopards on August 7 due to ligament damage suffered after rolling his ankle in training.
The 24-year-old is optimistic of being back for the final rounds of the regular season, with Leeds level on points with third-placed St Helens heading into Saturday’s trip to Hull FC.
Jenkins believes the revival the club are enjoying under head coach Brad Arthur is down to the spirit in the squad, and is already open to extending his stay beyond his inital two-year deal.
“It just depends what I want to do after that, but I love it here,” Jenkins said.
“There’s a good vibe here. That’s what makes footy teams play well, when you’re all good mates off the field and enjoy spending time with each other.
“I felt this year we’ve had a good balance of having fun with the boys but when it’s time to switch on in training we do, and it’s paying off for us.”
