NRL 2021: Anthony Milford opens up on his switch to South Sydney and Wayne Bennett’s advice

Anthony Milford admits he will be “starting from scratch” at South Sydney next season but the unwanted Bronco is determined to prove his critics wrong after some advice from Wayne Bennett.

Anthony Milford will join the Rabbitohs next season. Picture: Matt Roberts/Getty Images

Anthony Milford has declared his career is on the line at South Sydney with the unwanted Bronco revealing how the presence of Latrell Mitchell convinced him to chase his premiership dream at the Rabbitohs.

In his first interview since signing with Souths, Milford opened up his turbulent tenure at the Broncos, hit back at claims he is a poor trainer and believes he can forge a potent scrumbase strikeforce with Cody Walker at Redfern next season.

Milford is one of the most maligned players in the NRL. When he signed the first $1 million-a-season contract in Broncos history in 2017, the then 23-year-old was anointed as Brisbane’s golden playmaker who would deliver the club’s first title since 2006.

Watch The 2021 NRL Telstra Premiership Live & On-Demand on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >

But Milford’s four-year, $4 million deal became a millstone around his neck as he was pilloried for his inconsistency.

Some of the greatest playmakers in the code’s history, NRL Immortal Andrew Johns and Penrith legend Greg Alexander, have torn Milford to shreds.

Anthony Milford has endured a turbulent six years at the Broncos. Picture: Matt Roberts/Getty Images

Amid the searing criticism, Milford was axed to reserve grade three times this year by Broncos coach Kevin Walters, who last month delivered the most painful bullet of all, advising the enigmatic five-eighth his time at Brisbane is over.

Now the besieged playmaker goes from Red Hill to Redfern with his career at the crossroads. At 27, Milford’s maiden season at the Rabbitohs will come under enormous scrutiny, but the Broncos discard is determined not to be a flop in red-and-green.

“The hunger is there, I know that,” he said.

“I will treat Souths like my big chance to succeed again. I’m starting from scratch.

“Nothing is guaranteed for me there so I want to train hard and see how I go. I must admit I never pictured myself at South Sydney, but the club has a rich history, so I’m thankful to the Rabbitohs for seeing something in me.

“I’m relieved and excited to have my future sorted. I’m stoked to be going to Souths.

“It will be a big change going to Sydney with my family. I’m more worried about how my young girls (Milford has two daughters) will settle in, but it’s an opportunity I’m looking forward to.”

Brisbane’s derby rivals the Titans expressed interest in Milford, but the former Queensland Origin utility opted for a one-year deal with the Rabbitohs.

The reasons for choosing the Pride of the League were multifaceted.

There are Broncos threads via Wayne Bennett, who mentored Milford at Brisbane, and the super coach’s successor next season Jason Demetriou, who forged a bond with the pivot during his two-year stint as Bennett’s assistant at Red Hill.

Anthony Milford will start from scratch at South Sydney next season.

But for Milford, the irresistible magnets were Mitchell and Walker, the precociously-gifted Indigenous duo who play with the instinctive, off-the-cuff style that made ‘Milf’ a teenage sensation at Canberra.

Mitchell, Milford, Walker and Damien Cook. It’s the type of playmaking spine that can take Souths to a title — and Milford is desperate to scratch his premiership itch after the heartache of Brisbane’s extra-time grand-final loss to the Cowboys in 2015.

“I really want to win a competition,” Milford said. “It’s hard to get over that grand final because we were so close. I remember Justin Hodges (former Broncos skipper) saying to me the only way to get over the pain of losing a grand final is to win one.

“The ultimate dream is still that premiership and it would be nice to do it at Souths.

“I had a few conversations with Wayne and ‘JD’ (Demetriou) about what was going on and what my next move should be. Wayne gave me some advice on how to get the best out of myself footy-wise and everything aligned for me to go to the Rabbitohs and start afresh. “Wayne felt Souths would be the right club for me with their culture.

“Talking to JD, Souths are a successful club and I’m attracted to the calibre of players that are there.

Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker were key factors in Anthony Milford signing with Souths.

“One of the big attractions for me was Latrell, he was a massive factor in me going there. I really want to play with a guy of his ability. He is a natural footballer, his actions speak for itself.

“Cody Walker is another guy I feel I can learn from. They have a really experienced team and some good forwards, but Cody is a really smart playmaker and I can’t wait to pick his brains.”

Milford’s Broncos chapter was not the train wreck some would believe.

He went within a whisker of clinching the 2015 Clive Churchill Medal, developed into an Origin player and won many matches in his 147-game Brisbane career with flashes of brilliance — including a booming 40-metre extra-time field goal to beat the Cowboys in 2016.

But Milford is the first to accept he didn’t deliver on his $1 million potential. Often pilloried as a below-par trainer at the Broncos, Milford says he must work harder at Souths.

“I have to say my time at the Broncos was pretty mixed,” he said.

“I was pretty happy with my earlier years at the Broncos, we made a grand final in 2015 in my first year there so I felt I was performing for the club. But the last few years have let me down, I didn’t do the Broncos jersey well of late which was disappointing.

“The expectation (of his club-record contract) never bothered me. There were a few things I could have handled better but I don’t blame anyone else for my form, it’s on me.

Anthony Milford was outstanding for the Broncos in the 2015 grand final but left gutted by their loss to the Cowboys.

“The truth is I haven’t been up to the standards that I hold upon myself. For whatever reason over the past two or three years, I haven’t been able to perform consistently.

“I personally believe I need to train harder and I have to be better on game days.

“I definitely have improvement in me. I’m only 27 so there is a heap of room for improvement. I know I’m not done in the NRL.

“I know my best days are ahead and I have let JD know that.

“Every area of my game needs improvement. To be consistent in your performances, you need to be working harder off the field.

“I don’t want to have ups and downs all the time at Souths.

“That’s my biggest challenge, to be as consistent as I can be in training to help me perform on game day.”

Milford says he never feared having to seek a lifeline from the English Super League and insists he will leave the Broncos on good terms with Walters.

“There’s no issue with me and Kevvie,” he said.

“I have the utmost respect for Kevvie and in the 2015 season when we made the grand final, he got the best out of me as an assistant coach.

“Kevvie dropped me a few times this year. We sat down and had a chat and Kevvie felt a fresh start would be good for me. I have nothing but respect for him.

“I always had faith my manager could get me another deal in the NRL. I wasn’t too worried about not getting a contract.

“I know I’m good enough to play in the NRL, but I also need to have a look at myself and make sure I’m working hard enough to succeed at Souths.”