NRL 2021: Anthony Milford released by Brisbane Broncos

The highest paid player in Brisbane Broncos history has been shown the door as the Ben Ikin era officially begins.

Kurt Capewell has signed with the Broncos. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

Anthony Milford - the highest paid player in Brisbane’s history - has been shown the door by the Broncos.

News Corp can reveal the Broncos cleanout has continued with $1 million playmaker Milford told he will not be offered a deal for next season, bringing the curtain down on his tumultuous career at Red Hill.

The Milford development comes on the same day Broncos prop Matt Lodge finally secured a mid-season move to the Warriors after months of speculation about his future at the club.

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Milford was hailed as the player who would take the Broncos to a premiership when he signed a mega four-year deal worth $4 million in 2017.

But Milford’s career at the Broncos has come to an end.

New Broncos head of football Ben Ikin has informed Milford’s management that the maligned playmaker will not be offered a fresh contract and must find another club from 2022 onwards.

It caps a frustrating season for Milford, who has been dropped by coach Kevin Walters three times and suffered two injuries, including a broken hand in pre-season.

Anthony Milford’s Broncos career is over. Picture: Matt Roberts/Getty

No other player in Broncos history has been offered a $1 million-a-season deal and Brisbane will unlikely be handing out a seven-figure contract anytime soon after Milford’s inconsistent displays for the club.

The 26-year-old simply hasn’t coped with the expectation of a massive contract and has lost in the way in the past two seasons, triggering heavy criticism from former greats including Andrew Johns and Greg Alexander.

Milford’s manager will go to the open market immediately to find a new club for the former Queensland Origin utility.

Just last month, Milford said he was hoping to remain at the Broncos, but was prepared to put his family first if required to move on.

“I haven’t been up to the standards that I set myself and Kevvie’s as well,” Milford said of his form.

Anthony Milford, playing for Souths Logan, was dropped three times by Kevin Walters. Picture: Liam Kidston

“The truth is I need to be better. I have to be accountable.”

“I’ll be honest, I’m not too sure what my future is at the Broncos,” he said.

“It’s out of my control really. I’m leaving the contract stuff to my manager and we’ll see what happens.

“In an ideal world, I want to stay. That’s what I hope. But I understand the Broncos have a lot of players off-contract and it’s hard to keep everyone.

“For whatever reason over the past two or three years, I haven’t been able to perform consistently. It has affected my confidence.”

Ikin’s first signing spells trouble for Broncos captain

Broncos veteran Alex Glenn has rejected suggestions the signature of backrower Kurt Capewell will spell the end of his career at the Broncos.

The club’s new head of football Ben Ikin has wasted no time since joining Red Hill last week, by securing the service of Maroons representative Capewell on a three-year deal.

The versatile 27-year-old has become the latest Red Hill recruit and will be part of the club’s refreshed roster from next year.

Capewell joins the likes of South Sydney halfback Adam Reynolds and Melbourne centre Brenko Lee to move to Brisbane in 2022 as the club looks to bounce back from two years of misery.

Hailing from Charleville in western Queensland, Capewell has played 84 NRL games, including the 2020 Grand Final, as well as five games for the Maroons.

Glenn said he was excited about the prospect of seeing Capewell in Brisbane colours but rejected the idea the Penrith backrower was coming in as his replacement.

“It’s not an indication (that I am retiring),” Glenn said.

“Apart from myself, we don’t have too much experience in the backrow position and it’s something that’s a bit of a minefield position in our team.

“It’s just a great signing.

“I’m grateful that our club has locked in a star for that position and it’s not about where I stand, whether I retire or play on for one more year.

“I still haven’t made my decision yet and I’m just eager for him to come to our club.

“Over the next month or so I will sit down with the missus and my manager to have some honest conversations because I don’t want to be a selfish player who plays one year too long.”

Broncos veteran Alex Glenn. Picture: Nathan Hopkins/NRL Photos

As first revealed by News Corp last month, Capewell had been in discussions with the Broncos for several months after salary cap pressures threatened to squeeze him out of Penrith.

Capewell had been toying with the idea of a return to the Broncos, where he had played in the club’s NYC team from 2012-13.

He was also a member of the 2015 premiership-winning Ipswich Jets side in Queensland’s Intrust Super Cup.

Ikin described the club’s newest recruit as a “perfect addition” to Brisbane’s pack next year.

“Kurt has talent, footy smarts, experience and a strong work ethic, all attributes we want here at the Broncos,” Ikin said.

“In the past 12 months, he has played in an NRL Grand Final and a winning Queensland State of Origin team – that experience will be invaluable for our playing group.

“We have some great emerging talent here at the club who are learning to be true rugby league professionals, and I think Kurt will be a perfect addition to the squad in that respect.”

Originally published as NRL 2021: Anthony Milford released by Brisbane Broncos