'The more footy the better': Wallaroos' Miller targets constant development

One of the most recognisable faces of the Wallaroos’ rapidly developing profile, it is easy to forget Desiree Miller only debuted in the green and gold jersey less than three years ago.

However, the 27-cap international has done much since then, being one of the standout performers during the Jo Yapp era – lifting the 2024 WXV 2 title in South Africa and a scorer of six tries in four matches at Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025.

The NSW Waratahs wing has also embraced the role model side of national representation, and as the programme continues to grow, is hungry to embrace every opportunity that comes her way.

The Wallaroo winger has seen firsthand how powerful representation is, her interactions with a young Newcastle girl who plays for Southern Beaches Rugby Club ahead of their 2025 O’Reilly Cup match went viral, with the duo reuniting after the match.

“I love Darcie!” Miller told RugbyPass. “I still follow her on Instagram. She’s a cutie. She’s ripping and tearing into rugby and it’s so great to see her follow down that path.

“I hope that we’ll leave this programme in a better place when the time comes and it will be set up for girls like her wanting to come in and to really push themselves to reach higher honours.

“Little moments like that are so rewarding, meeting little girls like Darcie is such a privilege. We have a duty to be rugby players and elite athletes, we also have to inspire the next generation of girls or boys, that’s in how we play and how we carry ourselves off the field.”

With the Wallaroos set to play their 100th Test next month, all signs are pointing to a programme on the rise with the appointment of Tim Walsh to Director of Women’s High Performance at Rugby Australia – a role that will see Sevens and XVs come together under one roof.

While Miller has become known for being part of a dynamic try-scoring duo out on the wing with fellow speedster Maya Stewart, she’s excited to challenge herself in a high performance environment that the merger of the programmes will bring.

“I’m so excited to see the programmes merge,” Miller added. “They’re [Aussie Sevens] in a high performance environment and that’s something that the Wallaroos are trying to achieve.

“To merge with a programme that already lives and breathes that, it’s going to be an advantage for the Wallaroos. We’ll bring a lot in terms of the qualities that we have in our programme with the sevens girls.

“They train with a smaller number and we’ve got a wider group, so it’ll be interesting to see how that comes together.

“With Walshy in his new role, he’s got previous XVs experience. I think he’s a great candidate for it.

“Merging both his experience in sevens, which has had multiple titles and successes, and bringing that to the Wallaroos space, who are still quite new, [we’re] looking towards that 2029 World Cup at home and wanting to do our country justice.”

Miller has already been immersing herself in leadership roles with the Wallaroos and the Waratahs, and becoming her side’s goalkicker has also seen her confidence continue to grow.

 

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“Goalkicking was actually one of the reasons I got into rugby,” Miller revealed. “It was always something I would go back to when I just needed to reset my mind.

“I feel like I’m getting a lot more confidence back into it and into that part of the game.

“I’ve been in a lot of leadership groups in the teams I’ve been a part of. It has been challenging, but for the better.”

Those chances for higher honours may come along sooner rather than later, with Stewart making her debut in the Aussie Sevens in Singapore and scoring with her first touch, a sign that several Wallaroo speedsters could make a successful jump over to the shorter format.

On the flipside, Rugby Australia’s recent agreement with Premiership Women’s Rugby in England will allow several key Aussie stars to play in the longest running women’s domestic competition in the world, rapidly expanding their game time.

Wallaroo 2025 Player of the Year Tabua Tuinakauvadra and Western Force duo Grace Freeman and Halley Derera have already been confirmed to join Leicester Tigers next season, with more expected to be announced in the coming months.

When asked about the opportunity to play either on the sevens circuit or in England, Miller didn’t mince her words.

“I still feel like I’m learning the game,” she said. “The more footy, the better. Sevens is definitely a skill set where me, as a winger, would benefit from.

“But also playing overseas in the PWR, like Boo and Grace, would also be a massive opportunity. It’s the gold standard of domestic rugby comps, playing other international [players], the quality of rugby and the length of the games.

“It goes through quite a while compared to Super W. Whether that’s in sevens or in PWR, I think it would be beneficial not only to me, but to many other girls in the squad… and something that I hope that we’re supported through in terms of the lead up to 2029.”