'Pure euphoria': Otago first-five reflects on semi-final clinching penalty

Otago might have locked away the Ranfurly Shield for the rest of 2025, but they’re not done yet, reaching the semi-finals of the Bunnings NPC competition after a clutch 82nd minute penalty from Cameron Millar.

It looked like the Friday night quarter-final might have been heading towards extra time, after Otago had a player in the bin and Waikato were given a chance to win the game with a couple of minutes left.

But referee Ben O’Keefe awarded Otago a penalty from close to 40 meters out, which Millar straight away pointed to the posts for a shot at goal.

Millar, who looked confident from the moment he signalled to the posts, slotted the penalty to send Otago into this year’s semi-finals.

Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin will host one of the semi-finals, but Otago won’t know their opponent until later on Sunday.

Speaking to Jason Pine on Newstalk ZB’s Weekend Sport, Millar explained that his kick started to fade to the right as it closed in on the posts.

“I think every kicker wants to take that opportunity. We make some, and miss some but always keen to have a crack,” Millar said on Newstalk ZB.

“It started off looking pretty good down the middle, and then started fading right a bit late, which made me a wee bit nervous. But lucky enough, it snuck over in the end, which was good for us.”

The 23-year-old Highlanders first-five described the feeling as ‘pure euphoria’, getting his team over the line in such a big game.

“Yeah, that was just pure euphoria, I’m not even really sure what I was doing after I got it over, but yeah, obviously pretty stoked.

“I had a few messages on the phone, don’t know if I’ve even got to them all yet, but yeah it’s been pretty good.”

It’s been a very impressive season to date for Otago, something which Millar attributes to the coaching staff’s effort in creating a great environment.

“I think our new coach, Mark Brown, he’s just created an environment where everyone can be themselves, and I think it’s just a combination of everyone’s strengths coming together, we’ve just bonded really well, and have been able to put together some really good footy.

“I think we played Wellington in one of the early rounds, and it was a really tight affair, but we managed to scrape a win.

“I think from that game onwards, we’ve just been able to build momentum and belief, and it’s just keeps stacking games that we’ve got ourselves to this point from there.”