Last updated 12:53, Wednesday, 05 November 2008

Whitehaven ace Spencer Miller watched enviously on TV today as his Scotland team-mates tried to keep their World Cup hopes alive against Fiji – but the proud dad-to-be stressed he would not swap places with the Bravehearts.

Miller played a major part in helping the Scots secure a World Cup place and was certain to make the final squad.

But he is due to become a first-time father within days and had no hesitation in opting to stay home with wife Gemma.

“I’m gutted to miss out on the World Cup, but I’d also have been gutted to miss the baby,” he said. “If I’d gone out there, I’d have just wanted to come home.

“I’ve been looking at the blogs of a couple of the Scotland lads, and there’s been bits and bobs about them on Sky Sports News, training on beaches. It’s just been bad timing for me.”

He added: “I thought we got stuck in against France, but they had a lot of Super League players in their pack, and fitness told in the end,” he said.

“Fiji were awesome against France, a big, physical side with flashy backs.”

A silver lining for Miller in missing the World Cup is that he should be fresher for the start of pre-season training with Haven later this month.

“We had a good run at the end of the year, enjoying a couple of big wins,” he said. “All the team is back together and hopefully that run will continue.”