Highlanders No 10 Cameron Millar named for Josh Jacomb duel amid ‘significant’ New Zealand and overseas interest
Wednesday, 18 February 2026
What: Super Rugby Pacific, round two, Chiefs v Highlanders: Where: Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin. When: Saturday 7.05pm, live on Sky Sport 1.
Jamie Joseph’s desire to stick with a winning team has set up a high-stakes duel between Highlanders No 10 Cameron Millar and opposite Josh Jacomb, who retains the Chiefs No 10 jersey in the continued absence of new father Damian McKenzie.
Millar will guide the Highlanders around the paddock after his matchwinning penalty against the Crusaders, but how much longer he remains in Dunedin remains to be seen.
Off-contract at the end of the year, The Post understands that the 23-year-old has already attracted “significant” interest from both within New Zealand and overseas, although Millar does not have any foreign eligibility like former Crusaders pivot Fergus Burke.
The Highlanders announced last year that Jacomb would be joining them for the 2027-2028 seasons, while teenage Southland playmaker Mika Muliaina will also be promoted to a full contract.
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Muliaina started at No 10 for the Highlanders Bravehearts in their comprehensive 33-19 win against the Crusaders XV development side in Timaru on Saturday, and also scored a try.
Millar, therefore, faces a pivotal period in his career and his market value would have rocketed after his late heroics against the Crusaders last week - particularly after his strong form for Otago in the NPC.
Apart from his goalkicking prowess Millar is one of the best wet-weather No 10s in the country, and he schooled rising Auckland and Blues playmaker Rico SImpson in tough conditions in round 10 of the NPC last year.
On the back of that provincial campaign the Highlanders have given Millar the keys at No 10 and Joseph said that his selections this week reflected a desire for continuity against an All-Blacks-stacked Chiefs side.
“[The Chiefs] are another team that’s littered with seasoned All Blacks, and gave us two lessons last year in the game of rugby,” Joseph said.
“So, we get an opportunity to really just try to improve on last week's effort and try to put in a good performance against a really tough Chiefs side.”
Highlanders winger Jona Nareki will bring up his 50th game for the Highlanders after a number of injury-affected seasons, and Joseph revealed his admiration for a player who had been forced to modify his training.
“He’s massively important,” Joseph said.
“He's been littered with some injuries that prevents him getting to that top condition that quality players need to be in if they want to push for higher honours, so I feel sorry for him in that respect.
“[But] from the Highlanders' perspective, he's one of our best players and has been since he's been here.“
The Chiefs’ matchwinner against the Blues, Cortez Ratima, is missing alongside McKenzie but coach Jono Gibbes has injected three more All Blacks into the squad - Leroy Carter, Simon Parker and Emoni Narawa.
Chiefs: Etene Nanai-Seturo, Kyren Taumoefolau, Daniel Rona, Quinn Tupaea, Leroy Carter, Josh Jacomb, Xavier Roe; Luke Jacobson (capt), Jahrome Brown, Kaylum Boshier, Tupou Vaa’i, Josh Lord, George Dyer, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Jared Proffit. Reserves: Tyrone Thompson, Benet Kumeroa, Reuben O’Neill, Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Simon Parker, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Tepaea Cook-Savage, Emoni Narawa.
Highlanders: Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, Caleb Tangitau, Jonah Lowe, Timoci Tavatavanawai (co-capt), Jona Nareki, Cameron Millar, Folau Fakatava; Lucas Casey, Sean Withy (co-capt), Te Kemaka Howden, Oliver Haig, Mitch Dunshea, Rohan Wingham, Jack Taylor, Ethan de Groot. Replacements: Henry Bell, Josh Bartlett, Sosefo Kautai, Will Stodart, Veveni Lasaqa, Adam Lennox, Reesjan Pasitoa, Tanielu Tele’a.