NRL transfer news 2022: Anthony Milford’s Newcastle deal could still be blocked
Despite having three assault charges against him dropped, Anthony Milford still faces being sensationally blocked from an NRL return.
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Former Broncos $1 million man Anthony Milford faces being sensationally sidelined by the NRL despite having three assault charges dropped.
News Corp understands that Milford still needs to convince the NRL to allow him to make an immediate return to the game after the former Queensland State of Origin star pleaded guilty to public nuisance and wilful damage, but had the more serious charges of assault dismissed.
Milford was placed on a two-year $1000 good behaviour bond with no conviction recorded. The NRL integrity unit will now begin their own investigation into the incident and sources with knowledge of the situation believe he will need to serve more time on the sidelines before he is welcome back into the game.
That will come as a blow to not only Milford, but also the Newcastle Knights. The Knights have been locked in talks with Milford and were planning to contact the NRL on Monday to find out whether they could bring the former Broncos and Canberra star into their system.
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The NRL refused to register a contract for Milford until his assault charges were finalised. It is understood they had serious concerns over his place in the game after viewing CCTV footage of an incident September 20 where Milford was alleged to have assaulted three people, including two women.
Their stance cost him a deal with South Sydney but there was genuine hope that he would be able to resume his career with Newcastle once his court case was resolved.
That hope was fuelled when the assault charges were dismissed on Monday morning but his battle appears far from over as the NRL adopt a hardline stance on the situation. That stance is likely to prompt backlash from Milford’s camp, who urged the NRL to allow him back.
“I hope the NRL clear Anthony to play as soon as possible,” Milford’s agent Sam Ayoub said.
“There is no reason for him to be sidelined any longer. The courts of the land have cleared Anthony of all assault allegations, so we hope to go through the process of having him registered by the NRL immediately.
“We have had some constructive talks with Newcastle and they are on-going. The ball is in their court and his registration is a matter for the NRL.
“Anthony is ready to play. Fitness wise, he is fine. He has been training the house down during his time away so he could hit the ground running if an NRL club signed him.
“He has been treated extremely unfairly over this matter. I saw vision of the incident and the only person who was assaulted was Anthony Milford.”
CCTV footage from the night in question shows two women attacking Milford with a volley of punches. The former Broncos five-eighth does not retaliate, instead venting his anger by picking up a bin and throwing it, damaging a nearby vehicle.
The Broncos’ one-time $1 million playmaker was hoping to continue his career at South Sydney this year, but the Rabbitohs have gone cold on formalising the Milford deal and will not stand in the way of his transfer to Newcastle.
The Knights are on the hunt for halves – Newcastle recruitment chief Clint Zammit recently went to England on a scouting mission – and Milford is viewed as a handy playmaking foil for superstar fullback Ponga.
The Knights are skinny at the scrumbase following Mitchell Pearce’s move to the Super League and halves Jake Clifford and Adam Clune would be bolstered by the arrival of Milford on a cut-price, seven-month deal.
Newcastle sources confirmed they would reach out to the NRL on Monday to check on Milford’s status as they look to sign him for the remainder of this season. The Knights have been in regular contact with Milford’s management, his potential return coming at the ideal time for injury-ravaged club.
Clune has been a revelation through the opening month of the season, but is struggling with a knee problem and while this week would be too soon for Milford, he will give the Knights depth and experience in the halves should they get the green light from the NRL to finalise a deal.
At his peak, Milford went within a whisker of winning the 2015 Clive Churchill Medal and the Samoan Test ace could relish the prospect of forging an attacking strike force with Ponga free of the burden of his mega $1 million contract at the Broncos.
The veteran of 193 NRL games is tipped to return to Queensland and reunite with Wayne Bennett for the Dolphins’ foundation year in 2023 - Bennett provided a character reference for Milford as part of his court battle.
REVEALED: CLUB THAT MAKES PERFECT SENSE FOR CLEARED MILF
Peter Badel
Anthony Milford’s legal nightmare is over and his NRL career is back on track after the troubled Broncos star had assault charges dropped on Monday.
News Corp can reveal all three assault charges levelled against Milford have been discontinued – clearing the path for the former Queensland Origin ace to return to the NRL after three months in rugby league exile.
Milford appeared in a Brisbane court on Monday where he pleaded guilty to public nuisance and wilful damage, but the more serious charges of assault have been dismissed.
Milford was placed on a two-year $1000 good behaviour bond with no conviction recorded.
The NRL would not register any contract until Milford’s alleged assault of at least one female was resolved. Now that Milford has been cleared of assault charges, the 27-year-old will almost certainly be given the green light by NRL CEO Andrew Abdo to resume his football career.
The next issue is where Milford plays. He had signed a deal with South Sydney, but his Rabbitohs contract has not been registered, opening the door for Newcastle to snare Milford on a short-term arrangement to partner with Knights star Kalyn Ponga.
News Corp revealed last month that Milford could be back playing as soon as April with the Knights, who are ready to issue a lifeline after his planned move to South Sydney collapsed.
The Rabbitohs had signed Milford to a one-year contract, but the NRL refused to formally register the deal following his arrest on September 20 for allegedly assaulting three people, including two women, during an alcohol-fuelled incident in Brisbane.
However, Milford’s return to rugby league – after his frustrating months in NRL exile – is imminent.
CCTV footage from the night in question shows two women attacking Milford with a volley of punches. The former Broncos five-eighth does not retaliate, instead venting his anger by picking up a bin and throwing it, damaging a nearby vehicle.
The Broncos’ one-time $1 million playmaker was hoping to continue his career at South Sydney this year, but the Rabbitohs have gone cold on formalising the Milford deal and will not stand in the way of his transfer to Newcastle.
The Knights are on the hunt for halves – Newcastle recruitment chief Clint Zammit recently went to England on a scouting mission – and Milford is viewed as a handy playmaking foil for superstar fullback Ponga.
The Knights are skinny at the scrumbase following Mitchell Pearce’s move to the Super League and halves Jake Clifford and Adam Clune would be bolstered by the arrival of Milford on a cut-price, seven-month deal.
Newcastle sources confirmed they would reach out to the NRL on Monday to check on Milford’s status as they look to sign him for the remainder of this season.
The Knights have been in regular contact with Milford’s management, his potential return coming at the ideal time for injury-ravaged club.
Clune has been a revelation through the opening month of the season, but is struggling with a knee problem and while this week would be too soon for Milford, he will give the Knights depth and experience in the halves should they get the green light from the NRL to finalise a deal.
At his peak, Milford went within a whisker of winning the 2015 Clive Churchill Medal and the Samoan Test ace could relish the prospect of forging an attacking strike force with Ponga free of the burden of his mega $1 million contract at the Broncos.
The veteran of 193 NRL games is tipped to return to Queensland and reunite with Wayne Bennett for the Dolphins’ foundation year in 2023.
Last month, new Souths coach Jason Demetriou said he was keen to have Milford at Redfern, but he is set to lose the battle with Rabbitohs officialdom.
“I want Anthony to come and play for South Sydney,” said Demetriou, who worked with Milford as Bennett’s Broncos assistant in 2017-18.
“Up until the charges were made, he was on his way here.
“At the moment, my main concern is about Anthony’s welfare, as a friend I want him to be able to clear his name.
“I’m keen to have Anthony here this year, but if it doesn’t work out, it’s next man up and we have some talented young kids who can step up and do the job.”
Bennett coached Milford for four years at the Broncos and confirmed he is keen to have him on the Dolphins’ books for their inaugural season.
“Anthony is only 27 years old, he has played almost 200 games, so his best football is still ahead of him,” Bennett said.
“He went through a contrast from being in a grand final to being at a club that won the wooden spoon. There is more maturity in his game now.
“There’s no doubt Anthony has lost his confidence over the last few years, but I’m confident I can help ‘Milf’ turn things around.”
Milford’s lawyer Dave Garratt said: “Anthony from the outset of this matter has maintained his innocence of any assault charges and today’s result reflects that.
“He is remorseful for his other actions on that night. He is now looking forward to putting this matter behind him as it’s put a large strain on him and his family and all parties involved.”
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