NRL 2020: Injured star Anthony Milford says he must lift to win a new Broncos deal next season

Brisbane’s $1 million man Anthony Milford is one of the NRL’s great enigmas. Hot one minute, cold the next, Milford is off-contract next year and admits he faces a make-or-break season in 2021.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 11: Anthony Milford of the Broncos salutes the fans after his team's victory during the round nine NRL match between the Brisbane Broncos and the Canterbury Bulldogs at Suncorp Stadium on July 11, 2020 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

Anthony Milford has vowed to fight for his career at the Broncos with the under-fire playmaker insisting he can recapture the sizzling form that inspired Brisbane’s charge to the 2015 grand final.

In his only interview on his injury-plagued season, Milford revealed his plan to avoid surgery on a grade-two hamstring tear, hoping intensive rehabilitation over the next month will have him fully fit for pre-season in November.

The 2021 season shapes as a make-or-break year for Milford at Red Hill.

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Anthony Milford knows 2021 will be a vital season for him.

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Brisbane’s highest-paid player is off-contract next season and has been heavily criticised for his erratic form, with NRL Immortal Andrew Johns calling for Milford to be axed earlier this year during the Broncos’ crisis.

The 26-year-old was linked with a move to the Wests Tigers earlier this season, but Milford is committed to the Broncos and has pledged to bounce back next season in his quest to ink a new deal at Brisbane.

“It is a big year for me next year,” Milford said.

“I owe the club a lot for their support and the Broncos fans backing me for several years.

“I would love to stay at the Broncos. I don’t want to leave the club unless they don’t want me.

“I have family here, and I have two young girls growing up, so Brisbane is home for me.

Milford is hoping to avoid surgery on his injured hamstring.

“But more importantly, I enjoy my football at the Broncos. I have another year left at the Broncos and I have to make sure I’m fully fit next year.

“I want to get back to the type of form I know I’m capable of and the only way to do that is through consistent performances.”

Milford has played just once in the past two months due to a frustrating hamstring injury.

After breaking down against Cronulla in round 12, Milford rushed back three weeks later in a desperate bid to help his struggling teammates, only to aggravate his hamstring in a 28-24 loss to the Dragons.

The former Queensland Origin utility tweaked his hamstring again at training a fortnight ago, ending his season, but believes he can avoid surgery.

“The specialist said it’s in my hands on having surgery,” he said.

Milford hasn’t played since re-injuring his hamstring against the Dragons in August.

“It was 50-50. I could have had the operation but I’ve decided not to have surgery at the moment, so I am trying to let the hamstring heal by myself.

“It was a grade-two tear when I first did it. The only reason I injured it again was because I was trying to rush back to play, whereas now I can take my time and try and rehab it properly.

“It’s been a frustrating injury. I felt good at one point and then you test it out and it goes on you. I tried to come back earlier than I should have, but there’s nothing worse than seeing the boys struggling in games and wanting to help them out.

“I have a couple of months now so hopefully I can come back fully fit and get ready to have another good pre-season under my belt.”

Milford went within a whisker of winning the Clive Churchill Medal in the 2015 grand final. But five years on, the Broncos match-winner has been accused of failing to deliver on his natural talent.

Now a veteran of 180 NRL games, Milford has reached the midpoint of his career and is adamant his most dominant years are not behind him.

Milford has been criticised for lacking consistency but insists his best years are ahead of him.

“I believe I can get better as a player,” he said.

“I am playing well in attack when I get my defence in order.

“I like playing five-eighth and I still believe I am best suited there.

“In some ways, I feel I am still learning. I’m 26 so there’s a lot more senior guys in the game and I’m trying to take the knowledge of someone like Darius Boyd (retiring Broncos teammate), who has been around for a long, long time.

“The game is always changing so you have to keep up, but the biggest thing for me is consistency.

“It’s been a battle for me for a few years. I will play well in some games and then fall out of games for whatever reason.

“I know I need to be better at that side of my game and that’s something I am working on for next year.”

Originally published as NRL 2020: Injured star Anthony Milford says he must lift to win a new Broncos deal next season