NRL 2021: Anthony Milford inspires Broncos to 24-22 win over the Warriors
Anthony Milford hasn’t given Brisbane fans much to cheer about recently but the Souths-bound playmaker tied the knot on an epic departing gift.
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Anthony Milford has reinforced his reputation as the game’s greatest enigma after engineering an entertaining 24-22 win over the Warriors to break a Broncos two-game losing streak.
The Souths-bound playmaker put in his best performance of the year in front of 18,252 fans at Suncorp Stadium to ensure the Broncos offloaded the wooden spoon to the Bulldogs.
And his performance on Sunday has assured himself a spot in the Broncos starting side for the final two games of the season.
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“My word he does (stay in the team),” Broncos coach Kevin Walters said after the win.
“Particularly on tonight.
“I just thought it was the best he’s played in a long time.
“He brought his natural game, his defence was really strong, he kicked well and looked quite threatening with the ball.
“That’s Milf in a nutshell.
“We’ve got a great working relationship, Milf and I and there was no hesitation to put him back in the side.
“We know what he can bring.
“It’s been tough for a lot of players this year and Milf is one of those guys.”
This bounce was a welcome 🎠for Albert Kelly! #TelstraPremiership Moment of the Match #NRLBroncosWarriorspic.twitter.com/nP7blt7ReQ
— NRL (@NRL) August 22, 2021
The maligned playmaker was criticised earlier in the year for not getting more involved in the game but on Sunday, he was in everything.
And with scores locked at 18-all with seven minutes left in the game, Milford found himself in the right place at the right time to score the matchwinning try and hand Brisbane their sixth win of the season.
Brisbane’s gain is the Warriors pain, however, with the New Zealand club facing a tough ask to make finals footy.
The Broncos led 12-4 at halftime but within 10 minutes into the second stanza, they allowed the Warriors to score back-to-back tries.
But an Albert Kelly try and Milford’s four-pointer has taken Brisbane to 14th spot on the ladder, above rivals North Queensland.
MILFORD FINDS HIS MOJO
Brisbane fans didn’t know whether to cheer or cry as Milford – bound for Souths Sydney in two weeks’ time - found his mojo again at Suncorp Stadium.
You have to go back to Round 12 when Milford last started a game in the Broncos No.6 jersey but you have to go back further than that to find a game where the 27-year-old put in a better performance.
The out-of-favour playmaker wound back the clock on Sunday to put in his best performance of the season to finish with four tackle busts, two offloads and three try assists.
Milford’s match-winning try was also his first try of the season.
After being dropped from the starting squad midway through the year, and told he had no future at Red Hill, Milford looked like a fresh new player – much to the dismay of Broncos fans who will be farewelling him at season’s end.
THE WAR FOR WALSH
All the talk leading into Sunday’s game was about Warriors wunderkind Reece Walsh and the 19-year-old was kept relatively quiet by his former club.
The Broncos lit the fuse with coach Kevin Walters admitting the club was interested in poaching Walsh back to Red Hill when his contract with the Warriors expired.
Walsh split open the Broncos defence in the 30th minute with his electric footwork, which eventually led to the Warriors first try of the game.
He finished the game with 145 running metres, seven tackle busts and two try assists.
But his one from five conversions cruelled the Warriors of a crucial win when it mattered most.
Great game. I think better team lost. Warrior score 5 tries to 4. Taking nothing away from Bronco. Great attacking footy both sides. Very enjoyable contest. Less 6 again penalties really makes a difference to the quality of the football. Thank you gentlemen. Great entertainment
— Phil Gould (@PhilGould15) August 22, 2021
WARRIORS GONE?
The Warriors now face an uphill battle to make the finals footy.
They play the Raiders and the Titans in their final two games of the season – two teams who are also vying for a finals spot.
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