Magpies Under 18’s side being shown the ropes by Josh Miller.
The Forbes & Parkes Phoenix recently spoke with Forbes Magpies under 18’s Coach, Brad McMillan about how the boys are shaping up for the 2023 season.
Brad is an experienced coach, having previously worked with the under 18’s team back in the early 2000’s and again in 2020. He also had a stint coaching the Forbes Magpies first grade team in 2014, before coaching the Eugowra side in 2021.
Brad spoke about what his focus will be for the under 18’s this year. “A lot of my focus is on defense. I like to think that if you can stop tries, you can stop games, it’s 50% of the game.”
“A lot of people focus on attack, and that is an extremely important part of the game, but I think defensively that’s what we really want to nail this year,” said Brad.
Proving that it’s not what you know but who you know, Brad recruited his brother- in-law, Josh Miller to teach the under 18’s squad some great defensive techniques.
Josh Miller played in the NRL for both the Canberra Raiders and the St George Dragons, even sharing the Player of the Year award at Canberra Raiders in 2005 alongside Troy Thompson and in 2009 alongside Josh Duggan.
Josh has been signed this year as the Contact Coach for the Raiders to improve the defensive technique of the players. It was those defensive skills that Brad was wanting Josh to teach his under 18s.
They will get to test their new skillset when they play the curtain raiser in Mudgee on Saturday, 1st April ahead of the Newcastle Knights v Manly Sea Eagles game for round 5 of the NRL. Be sure to head to Mudgee for a great day of footy.
