NRL contract news: Rabbitohs eye Anthony Milford, Broncos keen on Dane Gagai
Anthony Milford now has four clubs chasing his signature but his future hinges on Souths’ battle to retain Dane Gagai.
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Wayne Bennett says Souths will consider throwing a lifeline to unwanted Bronco Anthony Milford as the Rabbitohs face a poaching threat from Brisbane for Queensland Origin star Dane Gagai.
News Corp understands the Rabbitohs are open to the idea of signing Milford, but his possible shift from Red Hill to Redfern hinges on South Sydney’s battle to retain Maroons flyer Gagai.
With the NRL finals on the horizon, Gagai remains off-contract and it is understood the Rabbitohs are considering beefing-up their original 12-month offer to two years to keep the 30-year-old at Redfern.
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But the prospect of Gagai defecting to the Broncos, coupled with Benji Marshall inching towards retirement, would give the Rabbitohs the funds to make a play for besieged Broncos playmaker Milford.
With Parramatta’s interest in Milford cooling, the Rabbitohs shape as a frontline contender for his signature given the $1 million man’s history with Bennett’s successor Jason Demetriou, who worked with the five-eighth at Brisbane.
Former Broncos assistant Demetriou will back himself to get Milford firing again and Bennett believes the Rabbitohs could be a good fit for the former Queensland Origin utility.
“I don’t know where ‘Milf’ will end up, but Jason is pretty close to Anthony,” said Bennett, who will pass the Souths coaching baton to Demetriou at season’s end.
“Jason likes him and has worked with him so there might be an opportunity here (for Milford).
“Jason would be happy to have him at the club, but I don’t know what Milf is chasing and how much money the club has left in the cap.
“Jason knows Milf can play and they worked well together at the Broncos, but it depends on Souths — they might have other plans around their halfback because I won’t be there next year.”
Souths are already losing first-choice halfback Adam Reynolds to the Broncos next season and the Rabbitohs could suffer a further scrumbase blow if the 36-year-old Marshall decides to retire.
Whether Milford partners Souths maestro Cody Walker in the halves in 2022 could hinge on Gagai’s next move.
The Broncos have expressed interest in Gagai, but have yet to table a formal offer due to salary-cap restrictions.
The Rabbitohs have offered Gagai a one-year deal worth around $450,000, but it is understood Brisbane may struggle to pay more than $400,000 for the Origin centre, who debuted at the Broncos in 2011.
“Dane is a player that remains on our radar, but at this point in time we are not in a position to table anything for him,” Broncos football boss Ben Ikin said.
“It will be a wait-and-see scenario. It depends what we can afford.”
Milford, a veteran of 189 games who turned 27 a fortnight ago, says he is prepared to move to Sydney if the Rabbitohs are keen.
“I’ve got two young girls so my family comes first now — I will go wherever I need to for them and what best suits my football,” he said.
“I honestly believe I have more in me.
“I’m only 27. I know the hunger and the passion is there. I still love playing the game so hopefully a fresh start can be good for me.”
EELS GET COLD FEET ON MILFORD
— Dean Ritchie
Parramatta is unlikely to pursue Broncos five-eighth Anthony Milford.
After being offered Milford, as revealed exclusively in The Daily Telegraph, the Eels carefully considered nabbing the unwanted $1m a year star for the remainder of this season.
Yet after careful examination, Parramatta is now almost certain to push forward this season with their existing roster.
Those close to the club feel a new player entering a tight-knit playing group this late in the season could disrupt the side’s rhythm.
Parramatta already has an abundance of utility reserves including Will Smith and Bryce Cartwright.
The expected rejection for Milford comes as Wests Tigers and St George Illawarra try to work out a deal for utility player Moses Mbye.
If a deal can be struck, Mbye could join the Dragons immediately.
St George Illawarra announced on Tuesday the signing of South Sydney and Queensland forward Jaydn Su’A on a three-year deal.
Su’A will join Saints from the start of 2022.
“We have made no secret that strengthening our pack has been a recruitment priority for us of late and we‘re pleased to bring a player to the club of Jaydn’s quality,” said St George Illawarra general manager of football Ben Haran.
Meanwhile Canterbury has re-signed winger Jayden Okunbor to a new two-year contract.
“Jayden is a destructive runner, who added to our other backline signings for next season, will create a great attacking threat in this competition,” said Bulldogs CEO, Aaron Warburton.
THREE CLUBS OUT TO SCUPPER MILFORD’S SHOCK SWITCH
—Chris Honnery & Robert Craddock
Anthony Milford’s proposed late season switch to Parramatta is under threat as three more clubs chase his signature for next season.
Parramatta have contacted Milford’s camp but the proposed switch has already hit choppy waters.
Milford is keen to play on in the NRL despite being told he is unwanted at the Broncos next season and there are fears a short term deal with the Eels could do more harm than good for his chances of gaining a longer term deal at another club starting next season.
If he went to the Eels and had limited first grade exposure behind the well-established Mitchell Moses and Dylan Brown, Milford could tarnish his attractiveness to other clubs.
The Eels are yet to make a financial offer for Milford’s services but are likely to make one before the August 1 deadline when clubs must finalise their top 30.
Milford is coming out of a long term million-dollar-a-season deal with the Broncos which ends in September and he is poised to be paid roughly the same amount whether he goes to Parramatta or stays in Brisbane.
Milford last played in Brisbane’s Round 12 loss to the Storm before succumbing to a knee injury which ruled him out for a month.
Broncos coach Kevin Walters lamented the club failed to get the best out of Milford who peaked in the 2015 season when he led the Broncos to a heartbreaking grand final loss to the Cowboys.
There are fears a short term deal at Parramatta could hurt Milford’s chances of finding a club in 2022. Picture: Liam Kidston
“I’m disappointed we couldn’t get Anthony playing to a level where we know he is capable,” Walters said.
“He played some decent footy for us at different stages this year but I just feel for Anthony’s interest, more so than the Broncos, that he needs to find a club outside of Brisbane.
“My suggestion to him was to find a strong Sydney club. He’s got more to offer in the game and in the NRL but I feel his future is best served at another club.
“While Anthony was disappointed to hear the news, he was certainly in agreeance of it. It’s been a tough few years for Anthony and everything that goes with Anthony Milford.
“I certainly feel he’s got a career still in the NRL and to start with a clean slate at another club.”
Broncos new football boss Ben Ikin told The Courier-Mail earlier this month the club felt it was time for Milford to find a new home from next year.
“We have invested heavily in Adam Reynolds (Souths halfback) and we had to look at what we can afford to put around him and who is going to play where,’’ Ikin said.
If the Parramatta deal is successful, Milford could be playing in the blue and gold in a matter of weeks to see out the rest of the season.
EELS EARMARK SHOCK ROLE FOR MILFORD IN TITLE PUSH
—Adam Mobbs, Phil Rothfield, Chris Honnery
Parramatta are considering a shock mid-season swoop for Brisbane Broncos five-eighth Anthony Milford to bolster their playmaker stocks for the finals.
The Eels’ interest comes as a number of NRL clubs have recently made inquiries regarding Milford in recent weeks.
St George Illawarra contacted the Broncos two weeks ago to make inquiries about a 10-week contract but Dragons coach Anthony Griffin said on Sunday night the club was no longer interested.
As first revealed by Fox Sports, the Eels have discussed signing the 27-year-old to a short-term deal for the rest of the season.
Off-contract Milford is on the lookout for a new long-term home after being told he is unwanted at Brisbane beyond this season.
While it’s understood the Eels aren’t considering a long-term offer for the playmaker, they believe he could provide a playmaking X-factor from the bench as the club attempts to end its 35-year premiership drought.
With all NSW teams now in Queensland due to Sydney’s Covid-19 outbreak, a short-term move to a rival club could appeal to Milford given he wouldn’t have to relocate.
NRL clubs have until August 1 to finalise their 30-man squads for this season, and it’s understood Brisbane — who are out of finals contention — are open to discussions with other clubs around the immediate future of Milford.
The Eels still have one spot to fill in their top-30 roster and money in their salary cap to add an outside player.
Milford is in the final three months of his $1 million-a-season contract, meaning the Eels would only need to pay a portion of that to secure the out-of-favour star for the remainder of 2021.
After years of failing to bring through junior talent, the Eels have developed a number of young halves. Coach Brad Arthur’s son Jake is the first player off a production line that also includes athletic five-eighth Samuel Loizou and impressive Harold Matthews halfback Ethan Sanders.
As a result, Parramatta would be reluctant to sign Milford long-term and potentially block their young stars’ paths to first grade.
Milford shares the same agent — Sam Ayoub — with Eels captain Clint Gutherson and Origin forward Junior Paulo, which could also help in negotiations.
A late-season move could also be beneficial for Milford, who has languished in reserve grade for parts of this season after falling behind Tyson Gamble and Brodie Croft in the Broncos’ pecking order.
Brisbane have also signed South Sydney veteran Adam Reynolds as their halfback for the next three seasons, and also plan on shifting talented centre Kotoni Staggs into the five-eighth role to partner Reynolds from next season.
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