Ex NRL star Anthony Milford’s surprise move

Ex Bronco, Raider, Knight and Dolphin, Anthony Milford, whom fans agonised over as a ‘lost legend’ notching 219 NRL games, has found a new groove as he sheds the last remnant of his heyday.

During his time with the Brisbane Broncos Anthony Milford was estimated to be on as much as $1m a season contract. Picture: NRL Photos

Ex Bronco, Raider, Knight and Dolphin, Anthony Milford, whom fans described as a ‘lost legend’ notching 219 NRL games, has found a new groove as he sheds the last remnant of his heyday.

An unstoppable x-factor that colleagues like Patrick Carrigan and Kalyn Ponga described as a “classy” player, Milford is currently making a fresh start back on the footy field – working as a player/mentor in Brisbane Broncos’ feeder club Souths Logan Magpies where he began his playing days.

Fans have agonised over him as a ‘lost legend’ with one Redditor saying he was “arguably the biggest ‘what if?’ player in modern day NRL”, with his earnings peaking at an estimated $1m a season during his Broncos days.

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He was taken in by the Newcastle Knights in 2022. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images.

He was under significant pressure after facing charges in the Brisbane Magistrates court due to an incident two months after the Broncos let him go. Picture: Brad Fleet

Now, despite his new path remaining in Brisbane, Milford has decided to shed the last of two big assets he acquired during his professional playing days.

He had invested some of his estimated $4m multi-year contract with the Bronx into buying a five bedroom house for $631,500 in 2015, and a four-bedroom house for $590,000 in 2018 - both in the same Brisbane suburb Forest Lake.

The five bed house in Augusta Crescent has just been listed as sold for a deal struck in February for an undisclosed sum – though estimates put the value between $1.21m on the low end and $1.4m at the high end in today’s market.

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He was given a lifeline to return to Brisbane with the Dolphins, his last NRL premiership club.

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Home values have doubled since Milford bought the properties, though he did sell off the first house in 2022 – hot on the heels of what was potentially his worst year 2021 when life took a turn for the worse with fitness issues, the Broncos dropping him and a night out two months later ending up in court, scuttling his next contract chances.

Milford ended up selling his second Forest Lake home the year of his court date, accepting $835,000, which was a very tidy $245,000 gain.

He is now in the midst of a career transition, working under the guidance of Hostplus Cup Head Coach and former NRL colleague Karmichael Hunt, who believes Milford’s example “will be invaluable to my squad”.

Karmichael Hunt and Anthony Milford played for Souths Logan earlier and have partnered up again - this time to help young players prepare for the NRL spotlight. Picture: Liam Kidston.

“His journey is not too dissimilar from mine and how I transitioned my career in 2021, I’m looking forward to mentoring him over the next couple of years.”

Apart from on field playing time, Milford will work with the Magpies’ pathways team, helping its elite player development program which is raising 13 to 16-year-olds from the catchment to become future Broncos.

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Originally published as Ex NRL star Anthony Milford’s surprise move