Sport Confidential: Dolphins may be blown out of water for Anthony Milford
The Knights were seen as just a pitstop for former Broncos $1 million man Anthony Milford. But Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett’s close ties with him might not be enough.
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Newcastle is threatening to blow the Dolphins out of the water after hatching plans to retain resurrected playmaker Anthony Milford.
Sport Confidential can reveal the Knights have tabled a new deal for the former Broncos’ $1 million man, who was thrown a lifeline by Newcastle in May after his contract collapse at South Sydney.
The NRL’s new franchise were considered raging favourites to secure Milford for 2023 given the five-eighth’s close ties to Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett, who mentored ‘Milf’ at the Broncos.
When Newcastle signed Milford to a six-month deal in May, it was viewed as a brief pit stop for the one-time Queensland Origin star before he reunited with Bennett at the Dolphins next year.
But now the Knights want Milford for at least another two years – and it’s understood the 27-year-old is seriously weighing up staying in the Steel City.
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Milford has enjoyed the quieter lifestyle in Newcastle with the support of one-eyed Knights fans, as opposed to the pressure of being the highest-paid player at Queensland’s sporting flagship the Broncos.
Milford has recently put his Brisbane family home up for sale, fuelling suggestions he is eyeing a longer stay in Newcastle.
Bennett remains confident he will get his man, but the Dolphins face a tougher battle for Milford’s signature than first envisaged.
BENNETT ON WALSH’S DOLPHINS SNUB
Bennett breaks silence on Walsh’s Dolphins snub
Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett has broken his silence over the new NRL franchise’s inability to win the battle for Warriors whizkid Reece Walsh.
The Dolphins privately believed Walsh would be their marquee signing for 2023, only for the expansion newcomers to be ambushed by their Brisbane rivals the Broncos.
There were reports the Dolphins had made a formal complaint to the NRL over the Warriors stipulating Walsh could only negotiate with the Broncos, denying them a chance to bid for Walsh.
The NRL deemed the Warriors and Broncos did not breach any rules and Bennett says he won’t be sulking over the Walsh snub.
“I haven’t made any complaint to the NRL. But it’s true that we weren’t given a chance to make an offer for Reece,” he said.
“We were definitely interested in Reece. We regarded him as a good player, but he wasn’t coming off-contract until the end of 2023.
“The Warriors came out with the statement just a few months ago that he wasn’t leaving under any circumstances.
“Reece himself said in the media he wasn’t leaving the Warriors, but that’s OK, we’ll move on, we’re happy with the players we have so far.”
INSIDE THE ‘HEATED’ WALTERS CLASH THAT SPARKED WALSH EXIT
Reece Walsh’s return to the Broncos for next season was a bombshell development in the lead-up to the State of Origin decider.
But there is another fascinating narrative brewing at the Broncos – the relationship between Walsh and Brisbane coach Kevin Walters.
Sport Confidential understands Walsh believed he was ready for the NRL and had conveyed that sentiment to Walters.
The Broncos coach felt Walsh, just turned 18, needed more time to develop and wanted to protect the teenager by playing him in the Intrust Super Cup as part of a time-worn apprenticeship before his eventual rise to the NRL.
Then came an off-field flashpoint.
During Brisbane’s Covid-enforced stay in Sydney last year for games against Melbourne and the Rabbitohs, Walters and Walsh had an exchange of words at the team hotel that became heated.
It is not known what sparked the argument, but a furious Walsh left the scene immediately, packed his bags, and requested an urgent flight home to Brisbane.
Within weeks, the teenage sensation was at the Warriors making his NRL debut after signing a three-year, $1.3 million deal with the Kiwi club.
Walters is highly respected by Broncos players and has shown he will not play favourites.
He is prepared to make the tough calls, having twice axed former $1 million man Anthony Milford to the Queensland Cup last year. He has also dropped his son Billy this season.
Walsh’s decision to return to Red Hill is a sign he holds no bitterness towards Walters, but the teenage whiz-kid must accept he will not get a free ride to the hotly contested No.1 jumper.
Walters will no doubt do everything possible to smoke the peace pipe and provide a positive environment for Walsh in his second coming at Red Hill.
“The Broncos wanted me there and they could see me as part of their future, but they weren’t sure what they were going to do with me,” Walsh told News Corp last year.
“I wanted to play first grade, but ‘Kevvie’ (Broncos coach Kevin Walters) didn’t think I was quite ready.
“There’s nothing against the Broncos for me. They have played a major part in who I am as a player and person, but the Warriors have been great to me and I’m grateful for the opportunity they gave me to play NRL.”
At the time of Walsh’s departure, Walters took umbrage at suggestions he blocked the teenager’s path to first grade.
“We didn’t want him to go,” Walters said. “But he was strong about going. We knew he was talented but I wanted him to play a few more games in Intrust Cup (reserve grade).”
‘CRUSHER’ CLEAL’S PHIN-TASTIC JOB
The Dolphins head of football position has been one of the most talked-about jobs since the Redcliffe consortium clinched the NRL’s 17th licence last October.
Former Cowboys CEO and NSW Origin team manager Peter Parr was strongly tipped to be the Dolphins’ inaugural head of football. Parr is one of the most respected administrators in rugby league, having won a premiership at the Cowboys and been a key part of the Blues’ revival under Brad Fittler.
Earlier this year, it is understood Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett had informal talks with Parr, although he was not offered the new franchise’s head of football role.
Instead, long-serving Redcliffe official Grant Cleal is the hot tip to win the football manager’s role. Nicknamed ‘Crusher’, Cleal first joined the Dolphins in 1989 and is a former premiership-winning captain of the club.
Cleal has an intimate understanding of the Dolphins’ operations and is being considered for the role supporting Bennett and his NRL football department.
NO MORE MEAD FOR SPEED
Popular Broncos veteran David Mead is ready to walk into the NRL sunset.
Mead has informed the Broncos of his plans to retire, drawing the curtain on a decorated career that has seen him play 171 NRL games and 15 Tests for Papua New Guinea.
Mead burst onto the scene at the Titans in 2009 and scored 67 tries from 147 games for the club before joining the Broncos in 2017.
The 33-year-old has travelled the world in rugby league, having a stint with French club Catalans Dragons in 2018-2020 before returning to Australia for a second coming with the Broncos.
One of the code’s most likeable characters, Mead captained PNG at the 2017 World Cup and scored one of the greatest tries in history with his remarkable sideline snaffle for the Titans against Cronulla in 2011.
BRONCOS BACKING BRENDAN
Brisbane have dismissed suggestions boom back-rower Brendan Piakura will be offloaded to Canterbury in a bid to squeeze new recruit Reece Walsh into their salary cap.
The Broncos were buffeted by speculation they would consider releasing Piakura, who was close to joining the Bulldogs last year before Brisbane coach Kevin Walters pulled off a successful eleventh-hour pitch to keep him at Red Hill.
Since then, Piakura has struggled with injury, illness and suspension, playing just one NRL game last season and yet to be seen in the top grade this year.
Rumours suggested the Bulldogs were ready to pick up Piakura’s $1.2 million, three-year contract, but the Broncos insist the 20-year-old will not be a victim of Walsh’s arrival at Red Hill.
DOLPHINS SIGN TOP PEN PUSHER
The Dolphins have raided Wynnum-Manly for one of rugby league’s rising star administrators.
Seagulls CEO Hanan Laban will leave Wynnum-Manly after 12 years, seven as CEO, to become the Dolphins’ head of human resources.
Laban is regarded as one of the Hostplus Cup’s top CEO’s and will make his first foray into an NRL franchise.
“It has been a privilege to be associated with this great club for such a long time and I am very thankful for all of the opportunities that I have received,” Laban said.
“I first came to the club as a 23-year-old player, and never expected the journey which would come over the next 12 years.”
Laban will continue the club’s search for a new head coach following Adam Brideson’s decision to step down at season’s end.
TITANS CHEERING EELS
The Gold Coast Titans will be eagerly watching Saturday night’s clash between the Wests Tigers and Parramatta Eels.
The Titans are sitting in last spot on the NRL ladder with only three wins from 16 games and a points differential of -172.
However it’s the Tigers that are technically last, given they have also only won three games and have a differential of -188.
The Tigers have already secured two points for a bye, which puts them in 15th spot ahead of the Titans.
The Titans will pick up their bye points this weekend and if the Tigers lose to the Eels, the Titans will move off the bottom of the ladder to 15th.
However a Tigers win against the Eels will ensure the Titans remain anchored in outright last heading into the last quarter of the season.
It may not sound like much but the Titans are desperate to avoid collecting a second wooden spoon in four seasons.
WALKER’S ON 2.0
Roosters young gun Sam Walker plans on being a sponge in Camp Maroon this week.
Walker has been selected in Queensland’s extended squad for next Wednesday’s Origin decider at Suncorp Stadium.
It is the 20-year-old playmaker’s first taste of Origin football and he wants to make the most of training alongside Maroons halves Daly Cherry-Evans and Cameron Munster.
Walker will also get the chance to be mentored by Queensland legend Johnathan Thurston.
“I’m looking forward to learning as much as I can from those older and more experienced players I’ve looked up to,” Walker said.
“It’s going to be great being in this environment. It will be good to take in as much as I can.
“I’ve grown up in Queensland and it’s who I am. I’m really proud to be able to represent all the Queensland people.
“It’s the bigger picture, my family, friends and this whole state.”
Walker’s uncle Chris Walker played six games for Queensland in the 2001-02 series and is part of Origin folklore with the famous “Walker’s on!” footage.
BROKEN JAW HERO
This is the face of a true global sporting warrior.
Australia’s newest world champion Jai Opetaia is on the mend after undergoing an operation to fix a jaw broken in two places following his courageous defeat of Mairis Briedis last Saturday night on the Gold Coast.
Opetaia suffered a break on both sides of his lower jawline and this picture shows his face still heavily swollen from the operation.
The 27-year-old is expected to be sidelined for five months before his return to the ring, possibly a maiden world-title defence against fellow Australian Jason Whateley, the man who broke Opetaia’s ribs in sparring in April.
“Jai could barely talk 24 hours after the fight,” his promoter Dean Lonergan said. “Jai couldn’t have a painkiller put into him during the fight like we see with rugby league players. He just had to put up with the pain ... it was brutal.”
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