By Jonathan B Geddes

WARRINGAH coach Josh Holmes has rated Coby Miln as the Shute Shield’s top No.10 after his man of the match performance for the Rats in Saturday’s 30-21 win over Manly in their hard-fought local derby at Rat Park.

And the way he is playing Super Rugby teams should have him on their radar right now for 2026. 

Miln was a commanding midfield general on the weekend, capping his impressive effort with a decisive play that ensured his side victory five minutes from fulltime. 

With Warringah holding a 27-21 lead, cool customer Miln showed real rugby smarts to boot a field goal which gave the Rats their winning margin.

The spirited Manly outfit took it right up to their arch-rivals from kick-off until the final whistle. But a nine point deficit in the dying stages was a bridge too far for the Marlins. 

“It was good game management by Coby to put us up by nine,” Rats coach Josh Holmes told Rugby News after the game.

“He is getting better every week and I think he is the best 10 in the comp.

“You don’t score points like he does every week and do the things he does and not be consistently good.”

RISKY BUSINESS

MILN’S sweet kick didn’t happen by accident.

That is a skill which he regularly works on – and he was rewarded for all that effort on Saturday.

“It’s something I practice, it’s something good to have up your sleeve,” he said.

“After training I might do five or six of them.”    

Reflecting on his field goal Miln said: “I just wanted to take the opportunity, had a good look at it and there was no line speed from the ‘D’ so I tried to whack it over.

“I live and die by it, if I miss I miss, if I get it I get it, so I am happy to take the risk. 

“We were up by six and another three gets us to nine with five minutes to go.”     

Miln said he has benefited from spending time in a fulltime rugby environment with the Western Force at the start of the season.

“I just hope I can get another opportunity at that level,” he said.    

WE  FOUGHT THEM ON THE BEACHES

THE clash, which on the peninsula is known as the Shute Shield’s version of  State of Origin, was a battle of attrition.

Unfortunately the game was also a stop-start affair due to the constant flow of penalties.

Under coach Sam Lane Manly have been transformed from the team beaten 44-8 by Warringah in round four at Manly Oval.

“It was a typical derby where you had to grind it out, there was never a clear passage where one team dominated,” Holmes said.

“Manly definitely turned up to play and had plenty of energy – you could see why they have won four straight.”

The Rats had lost their previous three home derbies against Manly which made the win even sweeter.

“Now we move forward, we have six more games to go and need to concentrate on that,” Holmes said.

Miln said his Rats are currently in a good spot.

“It’s a bit of opposite to last year when we peaked early, but I still think we are trying to hit our straps and just trying to tidy up some areas of our game,” the No.10 said.

This Saturday the Rats take on Hunter at home while Manly face the Two Blues at Manly Oval.