NRL 2023: Why Wayne Bennett axed Anthony Milford for Dolphins’ inaugural team

Wayne Bennett has opened up on the Dolphins’ inaugural selection bombshell, revealing why he handed Anthony Milford a shock demotion and a stinging wake-up call.

Wayne Bennett has dropped a round one selection bombshell, overlooking Anthony Milford for the Dolphins inaugural team. Picture: Getty Images.

Wayne Bennett has put Anthony Milford on notice after axing his senior playmaker and handing Dolphins whiz-kid Isaiya Katoa the biggest test of his career for Sunday’s historic clash against the Roosters.

Bennett has dropped the first selection bombshell of his tenure at the Dolphins, ruthlessly snubbing Milford and blooding two bolters - Katoa and little-known Kurt Donoghoe - for the new franchise’s inaugural NRL outing at Suncorp Stadium.

Milford is one of the Dolphins’ most experienced players and the 206-game veteran, who was a $1 million star at the Broncos just two seasons ago, was expected to be Bennett’s main man at the scrumbase.

But Bennett has drawn a cultural line in the sand at Redcliffe, unhappy with Milford’s inconsistent pre-season trial form and rewarding classy teenager Katoa for an excellent summer.

Wayne Bennett has dropped a round one selection bombshell, overlooking Anthony Milford for the Dolphins inaugural team. Picture: Getty Images.

Milford’s axing will see the 19-year-old Katoa start at five-eighth in a daunting baptism of fire alongside halfback Sean O’Sullivan, who will be the Dolphins’ chief shot caller against the Roosters.

It is a stinging wake-up call for Milford, who did not train with the top 17 on Tuesday, a palpable sign that Bennett is prepared to make the tough selection calls to ensure there is no complacency at the Dolphins.

Breaking his silence on Milford’s shock demotion, Bennett insists the former Queensland Origin star has the talent to fight back, but challenged ‘Milf’ to rediscover his zest for the game.

“The reality is where does Anthony want to be in 12 months time - does he want to be back on top of his game or in and out of the team like a yoyo?” Bennett told News Corp.

“Anthony is at an age now where he is mature enough. He knows all about the game. He has been through enough tough times, so he has to make a deliberate choice about where he wants to be.

“Time is running out but Anthony still has time (to resurrect his NRL career).

“He is like a number of players in this game - he has to make a decision whether he is really committed to getting better or is he happy just doing what he is doing and just cruising through life.”

Bennetts admits time is running out for Milford to resurrect his NRL career. Picture: Getty Images.

They are chastening words from a super coach who has extracted the best of Milford’s game.

Bennett was at the helm of the Broncos when Milford went within a whisker of winning the Clive Churchill Medal in Brisbane’s heartbreaking 2015 grand-final loss to the Cowboys.

A win that night would have made Milford a superstar of the NRL. Eight years on, he has endured a seismic fall from grace: unwanted by the Broncos and thrown a lifeline by Bennett in a last-ditch bid to reclaim his matchwinning mojo at the Dolphins.

Milford was badly exposed in defence in the Dolphins’ final pre-season trial loss to the Titans. At 28, the Samoan Test pivot is under pressure to show more leadership on and off the field.

“There are some things in Anthony’s game that I feel need to get better,” Bennett said.

“It’s a long season and the team in Round 1 may not be the team later in the year.

“I’m trying to support Anthony, but he’s had a number of tough seasons and it’s not going to happen overnight for him.

“The experiences he has been through may have sapped his confidence. I think we can rebuild it and get him right, but Anthony has to want it, too.

“Anthony is an experienced player and he plays best when he is a free spirit.

“We’ve had a good chat about what he needs to work on and I hope he responds.

“It’s all in front of him.”

Isaiya Katoa will start his NRL career in a baptism by fire, making his debut in the Dolphins inaugural team.

Katoa faces a huge test against the Roosters, as does Donoghoe, who started pre-season on a $1000-a-week training deal but has been upgraded following a fine summer that has catapulted the former Knights utility onto the Dolphins bench.

In other selection news, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has clinched the Dolphins’ fullback spot, former Broncos duo Jamayne Isaako and Tesi Niu are the wingers and ex-Titan Jarrod Wallace will start at prop alongside skipper Jesse Bromwich.

Euan Aitken will partner former Origin hulk Brenko Lee in the centres, while Herman Ese’ese, Mark Nicholls and Ray Stone will join debutant Donoghoe on interchange.