Darren Lockyer says Anthony Milford must shape up before 2020 NRL season

Pressure continues to build on Brisbane’s million dollar man Anthony Milford, with Darren Lockyer joining the chorus of critics by adding that the playmaker must lose weight for the upcoming season.

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Besieged Broncos playmaker Anthony Milford has been warned by Brisbane hierarchy to lose weight and get fitter or risk having his $4 million contract torn up by coach Anthony Seibold.

The Courier-Mail can reveal Milford was one of several senior players who copped some home truths from Seibold as the Broncos coach looks to inject more professionalism and accountability to Red Hill next season.

Milford is the only player in Broncos history to have received a $1 million-a-season contract but there is a feeling among club powerbrokers that the Origin ace is not living up to his billing as the top dog on Brisbane’s salary list.

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Anthony Milford is under pressure to shape up for 2020. Picture: Brett Hemmings

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Seibold’s coaching predecessor Wayne Bennett was forced to defend claims two years ago that Milford was a poor trainer.

Milford hit back at his critics last year by winning the club’s player-of-the-year award, showing immense courage to play through the pain of a shoulder problem which ultimately required end-of-season surgery.

But there is a view Milford is only scratching the surface of his talent and could be the NRL’s No.1 player if he displayed the ruthless training ethic and will to win of retired Cowboys champion Johnathan Thurston.

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Broncos playmaking legend Darren Lockyer, a current board member, urged Milford to attack the upcoming pre-season with total desire in a bid to be at his physical and mental peak in 2020.

“Anthony needs to set a target to be the fittest he has ever been,” said Lockyer, also a member of Brisbane’s recruitment-and-retention committee.

“He’s not recovering from any injuries this time so he should get a good off-season in.

“I remember seeing someone like ‘Alf’ (former Broncos halfback Allan Langer) who wasn’t the hardest trainer, but he delivered every week.

Milford faced the fire of Anthony Seibold in the end-of-season review. Picture: Brett Hemmings

“’Milf’ is a guy that needs to work hard on his fitness to get the best out of himself.

“He can’t pace himself at training and think it will just happen for him on the weekend.

“He needs to have some aggressive targets for weight and skin folds.”

Seibold moved Milford from five-eighth to fullback midway through the 2019 campaign.

Should Seibold persist with Milford in the No.1 jumper, the 25-year-old will need to improve his conditioning in a position that places enormous aerobic demands on leading fullbacks James Tedesco, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Tom Trbojevic.

With skipper Darius Boyd set to begin the 2020 season at left centre, Lockyer believes Milford can still succeed with a return to pivot.

“If you have Tom Dearden at halfback and he provides direction, a running five-eighth can complement him and that could be Milford,” Lockyer said.

“If he stays at fullback, Milf needs to get better there and a full off-season training in that position will help.

“By his own admission, Anthony needs a really big off-season. Statistically at training he needs to improve to be at an elite level.

“He has to improve his training attitude to give himself the best chance of success week in, week out.”