A popular Cumbrian player has had to announce his retirement on medical advice.
Elliott Miller, whose career has been dogged by persistent injuries, has finally had to call it a day.
Miller, a product of the Millom ARLFC club was a former Great Britain Community Lions Youth International and a strong-running back.
He had returned for a second stint at Derwent Park in 2018 and finished the season as Town’s top try scorer with 16.
Miller had turned pro with Town in 2010 and spent six years at the club where he was a strong-running, eye-catching winger or centre. His standing in the game was acknowledged when he won Championship Young Player of the year in 2012. But there were signs of trouble ahead with an initial shoulder injury.
He had two seasons at Whitehaven where he frequently played in his preferred position of full-back but his time was blighted by another shoulder injury and a subsequent operation.
After his return to Town he was crucial in attack and defence and was a massive miss in the 2018 play-off final defeat to Swinton when he was unavailable due to the circumstances that surrounded the extension of the season.
His try scoring record has been very strong throughout his career and he had been closing in on 100 career tries on a ratio of nearly one a game, which is a fantastic effort from a player who is a massive threat from anywhere on the pitch.
He had started the 2019 season with a bang, scoring two tries in the opening day win at Oldham but disaster struck when he badly damaged his shoulder when diving to score in the Challenge Cup Victory over Newcastle Thunder.
He had had earlier in the week signed a new three-year contract to show his commitment to the club.
Unfortunately a full shoulder reconstruction was required and he missed the rest of the campaign but recurring concerns over a back problem and the effect of Covid put a dampener on any planned return.
Miller, who started his career at Millom as a six year old, says he is gutted to be retiring.
“I have had issues with my back for a couple of years now and if I was to continue playing it would need a major operation. I have been advised to finish.
“I was doing extra training at the club with Chris last season and I honestly thought I would be weeks away from a return, but it just didn’t work out.
“I had an ambition of scoring 100 tries in the professional game but it just isn’t going to be possible to reach that milestone.
“I’m gutted to be told to retire early but like to thank all the clubs and fans over the years I have played for. A big thank you to Workington Town. I will always be a Towny.
“Also big thanks to Millom and Whitehaven, I loved playing for all the clubs.”
