Anthony Milford stars but Broncos face nervous wait on Jack Bird

Anthony Milford tore the Sea Eagles up at Suncorp Stadium, but the joy of the victory has been dulled at Red Hill with reports Jack Bird has done a serious knee injury.

Anthony Milford (centre) of the Broncos scores a try during the Round 9 NRL match between the Manly Sea Eagles and the Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Friday, May 10, 2019. (AAP Image/Darren England) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

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The Broncos are set to issue an SOS for out-of-favour James Roberts after Jack Bird suffered a suspected ruptured ACL in Brisbane’s morale-boosting 26-10 defeat of Manly at Suncorp Stadium.

The joy at Broncos pivot Anthony Milford’s carve-up of the Sea Eagles was tempered by the crushing sight of Bird hobbling off in the 60th minute with a knee injury that threatens to end his season.

Before 41,388 fans in the NRL’s historic Magic Round at Suncorp, Milford may have produced the magic, but Bird endured the heartbreak.

Anthony Milford gets in for the try at Suncorp Stadium. Picture: AAP Image/Darren England

Filling in at his preferred right-centre slot after Roberts was axed by coach Anthony Seibold, Bird’s night ended prematurely when his left knee buckled under Manly defenders and he reluctantly hobbled off the field.

Bird will have scans in the coming days but he can ill-afford another serious injury after last season’s horror debut season at Red Hill in which he battled shoulder and sternum problems which required surgery.

“Jack is quite upset in the change rooms,” Seibold said.

“He will get some scans, I don’t want to pre-judge what the injury is but it looks to be quite serious.”

The one certainty is Bird will miss this Friday night’s blockbuster clash against premiers the Roosters – opening the door for Roberts to seek redemption against his NSW Origin teammate Latrell Mitchell.

“We have a quality replacement in James,” Seibold said.

“James has trained well with our Renegades squad and I haven’t had any feedback from him that he wants to leave.”

Alex Glenn leads the celebrations after Milford’s try. Picture: AAP Image/Darren England

This wasn’t Brisbane’s most commanding display with the Broncos having to overcome an insipid first-half, a gutsy Manly side and an injury to Bird to climb out of the bottom four with their third win of the season.

A stunning boilover loomed when the injury-ravaged Sea Eagles came charging out of the blocks against an embattled Broncos outfit which allowed Des Hasler’s troops to lead 6-0 at the 35-minute mark.

But with the Broncos floundering in a first-half siesta, Milford hauled his side out of trouble to send an emphatic Origin message at a time when Queensland selectors are getting serious about their side for Game One on June 5.

Corey Oates jumps for joy after scoring his try. Picture: AAP Image/Dave Hunt

It was Milford’s solo stepping which helped Brisbane cross to level scores 6-all at half-time.

‘Milf’ then exploded after the break, setting up two tries with deft grubber kicks as Broncos skipper Darius Boyd chimed into the onslaught to silence his critics and bury the Sea Eagles.

Milford was Queensland’s bench utility for Origin I last year and with Daly Cherry-Evans in danger of joining Andrew McCullough on the sidelines for this year’s series opener, the Broncos pivot must be considered for the No.14 jumper.

Abbas Miski tries to escape the Tom Dearden tackle. Picture: AAP Image/Dave Hunt

While Milford toyed with Manly, prop Payne Haas was superb, amassing 236 metres, while Boyd set up a 44th-minute try for Corey Oates before racing onto a Milford grubber in the 64th minute to seal victory at 22-6.

“We just had to keep chipping away,” Seibold said.

“We can get better but it was a pleasing win, we made quite a few line breaks off the back of Milford and Darius.”

Brisbane’s first-half performance illustrated the extent to which their confidence has been sapped by six losses in the opening two months.

But you got the feeling the Broncos just needed to complete their sets to finish triumphant and when they found their groove after the break, Magic Man Milford put Manly under his spell.