NRL round one team news: Anthony Milford in danger at Dolphins

Wayne Bennett has tipped his hand when it comes to round one selections with one of the game’s best young rookies tipped to usurp the role of veteran Anthony Milford.

(L-R) Anthony Milford and Isaiya Katoa.

Wayne Bennett is set to drop his first selection bombshell at the Dolphins with senior playmaker Anthony Milford in danger of being axed for their historic premiership opener.

News Corp can reveal Dolphins whizkid Isaiya Katoa has been told he will make his NRL debut alongside halfback Sean O’Sullivan in next Sunday’s round 1 clash against the Roosters at Suncorp Stadium.

It shapes as the ultimate baptism of fire for the 19-year-old Katoa, who just six months ago was playing for Penrith’s Jersey Flegg side before quitting the Panthers to become a foundation player at the Dolphins.

Bennett has shown during his 45-year coaching career he is not afraid to make the tough calls - he famously sacked Wally Lewis as Broncos skipper - and now the Dolphins mentor is getting tough with Milford.

Anthony Milford is in danger of being dropped for the Dolphins’ first game in the NRL. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Tongan Test ace Katoa and O’Sullivan ran in the halves at training on Friday, while Milford was relegated to the reserves in the wake of his dismal performance in the Dolphins’ 40-16 trial loss to the Titans last Sunday.

In other selection news, Euan Aitken is tipped to oust Broncos import Tesi Niu in the Dolphins centres, while former Knights utility Kurt Donoghoe could be a shock debutant off the bench against the Roosters.

All 17 NRL clubs will name their extended round 1 line-ups on Tuesday and Bennett was tight-lipped about Milford’s fate when contacted by News Corp.

“I haven’t got a deadline on selecting the team yet,” Bennett said.

“I have an obligation to the club and the playing group to do the right thing by them first.”

Asked if Katoa will play, Bennett said: “I haven’t finalised my team yet. Whether Milford is in or Katoa is in or if Brenko Lee is in or someone else is out, I will release the final team on Tuesday.

“My priority is to get the best 13 and whoever that best 13 is, you will find out Tuesday.

“We ran with a number of combinations at training, but Anthony Milford is not injured.”

Should Milford be officially dropped, it would be a crushing blow for the veteran of 206 NRL games.

Isaiya Katoa in action for the Dolphins

Five years ago Milford was Bennett’s star $1 million pivot at the Broncos and the Brisbane discard reunited with the super coach this season in a bid to revive his NRL career at the Dolphins.

But Bennett appears to have lost patience with Milford after he struggled in the Dolphins’ final pre-season hitout against the Titans.

The axing of Milford would come as a shock for the former Origin star, who helped Samoa to the World Cup final against Australia last year and was viewed as a certain starter for the Dolphins.

Blooding Katoa would be a big call by Bennett but the classy young gun was impressive when thrown into the fray against the Titans at Kayo Stadium.

The former Penrith prodigy is one of the NRL’s hottest young talents, having dominated schoolboys footy before making his Test debut for Tonga in last year’s World Cup.

In his first interview as a Dolphin following the Titans defeat, “Izzy” Katoa said he was ready for the NRL if Bennett needed him.

“I’d like to think I’m ready,” he said.

“But I know when it comes down to it, it’s all about hard work and putting in the effort at training. I’ll put my head down, work hard and earn my spot in first grade.

“Nothing is given. You have to work hard for it and that’s my next goal. I want to get better and learn as much as I can under the experienced boys we’ve got here.

“The goal is to play a (NRL) game, but in the short term it’s to keep working hard and earn the spot up there.

“That comes through playing with the Cup team and working hard at training, getting better and learning from the older boys.”

After running with the reserves on Friday, Milford left midway through the session for conditioning work.

Katoa has outplayed Milford in the pre-season, featuring in all three of the Dolphins’ trials.

It is understood O’Sullivan has been told he will be the Dolphins’ senior shot-caller against the Roosters, putting enormous pressure on the 24-year-old as he prepares to face his former club.

Originally published as NRL round one team news: Anthony Milford in danger at Dolphins