Anthony Milford doesn’t train but Broncos confirm he and Andrew McCullough are certain starters

ANTHONY Milford missed training on Wednesday but Wayne Bennett confirmed his star pivot will face Canterbury on Thursday night, with returning hooker Andrew McCullough set to make a stunning comeback.

Anthony Milford during the Brisbane Broncos training session at Red Hill in Brisbane, Monday, April 30, 2018. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt) NO ARCHIVING

STEELY Broncos hooker Andrew McCullough will make a stunning comeback from an elbow injury on Thursday night, three weeks earlier than his expected return.

Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett named the star No. 9 for his surprise return on Tuesday, but it was not until he finished Wednesday’s final training run that it was confirmed he would be back for the clash with the Bulldogs.

The inclusion of McCullough comes just two weeks after he was ruled out for at least a month with damage to the medial ligament in his elbow.

Milford will play despite missing the captain’s run.

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It has been a miraculous recovery for one of Brisbane’s most consistent players, with club medical staff not expecting him back for another three weeks.

But Bennett revealed that McCullough was the one who volunteered to make an early comeback, after Brisbane lost his No. 9 replacement Josh McGuire for six weeks to an ankle injury.

McCullough’s return is a much-needed boost. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

“He’s confident about being to play and he volunteered himself ... he sent me a text on Monday,” Bennett said.

“Yeah, I am (surprised he’s back early) but that’s the making of the bloke. He’s remarkable.

“He does everything right, that’s half the battle. From the moment he gets an injury he does everything he possibly can to get himself ready to play again.

“He’s been a career player here as well so he’s a pretty important part of the organisation ... a real important part.”

McCullough trained strongly on Wednesday with his left arm bandaged.

There had been some scrutiny as to whether he was putting himself at further risk by playing, but Bennett dismissed those concerns.

“He made himself available, he didn’t say he was playing,” he said.

“It’s not up to him whether he plays or not, it’s up to us whether he plays or not.

“We’ve taken all the other precautions and all the other tests, all the things we need to know and no one can see any reason why he can’t play. That’s where we’re at.”

It seems Todd Murphy will have to wait for his shot. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

Brisbane are expected to be 1-17 for Thursday’s clash, despite star playmaker Anthony Milford missing training session with a sore ankle.

Kodi Nikorima trained in the halves while utility Todd Murphy warmed up in the 17, but it was clear the Broncos were confident Milford would play as Murphy did not finish the session with the team.

“He’ll definitely play,” Bennett said of Milford. “He hurt his ankle a little bit the other day. It’s a sore ankle. He stepped off a pavement and twisted it a little bit.

“But he did train on Tuesday and felt a bit sore after that so we decided not to train him (on Wednesday).”

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