Brisbane Broncos’ million-dollar flop Anthony Milford finds new NRL team

Anthony Milford may have fallen out of favour at the Broncos this season but the playmaker has piqued the interest of an NRL rival.

The Rabbitohs will be Milford’s third NRL club, after Brisbane and Canberra. Picture: NRL Photos

Brisbane Broncos reject Anthony Milford has signed a one-year contract with the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

Milford, the highest-paid player in Broncos history, will pack his bags for Redfern in 2022 as the club prepares for life under new coach Jason Demetriou.

The 27-year-old is expected to partner Cody Walker in the halves next season, with veteran Rabbitoh Adam Reynolds bound for Brisbane.

Milford joined the Broncos in 2015 for what proved to be the best season of his career thus far – the former Raider’s deft playmaking skills helped guide the Broncos to their most recent Grand Final appearance that year.

Milford was instrumental in Brisbane’s charge to the 2015 decider, where they were defeated by the Cowboys in extra time. Picture: Adam Head

His form waned in the ensuing seasons and he has fallen out of favour under new Broncos coach Kevin Walters in 2021.

Despite raking in $1 million per season at the Broncos, Milford has managed just nine NRL games this year and has spent time in reserve grade.

He hasn’t featured at NRL level in over two months, having last played for the Broncos in round 12.

The former Queensland Origin star had been linked with a move to Parramatta, before reports emerged that he was on the Rabbitohs’ radar.

Outgoing coach Wayne Bennett and Milford’s future halves partner Cody Walker were among the high-ranking Rabbitohs to throw their support behind the prospect of signing Milford.

“I don’t want to speak on the future, but it’d be a great signing for the club to sign a guy like Milford. He’s obviously a very experienced player, he’s played rep footy at the highest level,” Cody Walker told Fox League on Thursday.

“I’d love for him to be at our club.”

“A smart club will sign Anthony Milford,” said Bennett, who coached Milford at the Broncos, earlier this month.

“If I was coaching next year and I had a chance to sign Anthony Milford, I would take him, that’s the best reference I can give to any NRL club.”

On Friday, the Rabbitohs confirmed they had indeed acquired Milford’s services for next year.

“We’re really excited to have Anthony joining our club in 2022,” Rabbitohs head of football Mark Ellison said.

“He has a tremendous amount of experience for a man that’s only 27 years of age; we believe he has his best football in front of him.

“He will get the chance to work with coaches who were leading halves in Ben Hornby, John Morris and John Sutton as well as his former mentor when he was at his peak in Jason Demetriou, and we think a change of club into our system could see us unlock those brilliant performances from Anthony that all rugby league fans remember fondly.

“We wish him the best of luck for the rest of the season with the Broncos and we look forward to having him join us for the 2022 pre-season.”