Milford a very good five-eighth, but could be a champion fullback if Broncos are brave
MY first vivid memory of Anthony Milford illustrates where his real greatness potentially lies — and why the Broncos must go to the open market to help their $1 million man, Peter Badel writes.
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MY first vivid memory of Anthony Milford illustrates where his real greatness potentially lies — and why the Broncos must go to the open market to help their $1 million man.
It was a typically freezing Canberra day. Sunday, July 7, 2013. Raiders versus Cowboys. Four days before Milford’s 19th birthday.
In his rookie season in the NRL, Milford had launched his career with nine games off the interchange bench.
But on this day, against a Cowboys side headlined by Johnathan Thurston, Canberra coach David Furner decided Milford’s 10th top-grade game would be as his starting fullback.
For most of the afternoon, Milford, wearing jumper No. 14, held his own. The Raiders had kicked clear at 20-6. Then the Cowboys came alive. They bridged the gap to 20-12. Thurston and his men were storming home. There were five minutes left on the clock.
Enter Milford. From a scrum win 70 metres out, the teenage whiz hit a pass like a tracer bullet. Bang, he was gone. Milford speared through the Cowboys defence. They didn’t lay a finger on him. Game over. Another NRL star was born.
Milford is now five years older, arguably slower and heavier than the 18-year-old who carved up the Cowboys, but the memory of that magical moment tells me the Broncos should go back to the future.
Milford has had some wonderful games in the decorated Broncos No. 6 jumper, but he can be more potent, and more consistent, running free at fullback.
The compelling metamorphosis of Moses Mbye this season at Canterbury, shifting from the scrumbase to fullback, is evidence Milford can be electric in the backfield.
For the Milford shift to work, however, Brisbane need to do two things.
One, they must find a palatable Plan B for their current fullback Darius Boyd, who just happens to be their captain. Two, they must delve into the player market, armed with limited funds under the salary cap, to sign a playmaker that will add depth to their scrumbase.
Right now, Melbourne’s Ryley Jacks is the only playmaker on the open market worth chasing at a bargain price.
Jacks, off-contract at season’s end, is on $150,000 at the Storm. Jacks isn’t a superstar, but he can execute a game plan, steer a team around the park, has a left-foot kick, possesses good habits from the Storm system and at 94kg, has the physique to handle frontline defensive duties.
By signing Jacks, Brisbane would suddenly have what they currently lack — scrumbase options. His calm, organisational ability would free-up livewire halfback Kodi Nikorima to attack at will.
Or Boyd could move into the halves, relegating Nikorima to the bench in the super-sub role many believe best suits him.
Either way, Milford could play unshackled at fullback, using his speed and fast feet to terrorise teams, either via broken-play or chiming in to pull the trigger in three-on-two situations.
Boyd, 31 in July, is by no means finished, but he is the first to admit his battle with ageing hamstrings. He could easily fire at five-eighth or centre. But the reality is fullback is now a young man’s position.
After 122 games of NRL, Milford should understand how to control matches and the process of building pressure on opponents. Instead, he continues to operate on instinct rather than footballing intellect.
Milford is a very good five-eighth, but he can be a champion fullback. The Broncos just need to be brave and roll the dice.
Originally published as Milford a very good five-eighth, but could be a champion fullback if Broncos are brave
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