Broncos superstar hits back at $5.5m deal reports

Brisbane wunderkind Reece Walsh has hit back at reports he's signed a $5.5 million extension at Red Hill. The details ran in a News Corp story on Tuesday night, claiming Walsh was set to become the highest paid player in the club's history. Anthony Milford became the Broncos' first $1m-a-year player when he signed a lucrative deal in 2015 - the year he went within a whisker of winning an NRL grand final with the team. But no player has pocketed $1.1m a season from the club. While Walsh may still become the first to do so, he took to Instagram on Tuesday night to deny a deal has been done. "Don't believe everything you read," he posted. "No deal has been signed. "I'm doing me... I'll let you know when something happens." Walsh then joked, "Someone give Kev (Broncos coach Kevin Walters) my number... he's lost it I think". Earning $1.1m a year would put Walsh among the highest paid players in the game, although still a ways behind his rival for the Queensland No.1 jumper - Kalyn Ponga. Ponga is the best paid in the NRL at $1.4m a season. Walsh is sidelined for at least a month after suffering a facial fracture on Thursday night. He cemented himself as one of the best fullbacks in the game last year when he won an Origin series with Queensland, and almost a premiership with Brisbane. Fellow young gun teammate Ezra Mam inked a lucrative extension in February which ties him to Red Hill until the end of 2029. The Broncos have arguably the most star-studded young list in the competition. The likes of Patrick Carrigan, Mam, Deine Mariner, Brendan Piakura, Jordan Riki, and Payne Haas have already committed for several years to come. The Broncos next face the Cowboys on Friday.

Milford's on the move

Veteran Dolphins utility Anthony Milford is close to signing a deal to finish his career with Leigh Leopards in the Super League.A former Queensland State of Origin and Samoan Test representative, Milford is still only 29 years of age but had a disappointing season at the Dolphins.He was dropped in the pre-season due to an allegedly poor attitude and was only used by Bennett when the Dolphins got hit by injury.A tremendous talent on his day, Milford has been an enimga throughout his 11-year career with the Raiders, Broncos, Knights and Dolphins.The halfback/five-eighth/fullback still has the ability to carve up a defence and is likely to be a big hit in Super League.

Serious Dolphins question that must be asked

Has the Dolphins' bubble burst? The question has to be asked - not so much because of their back-to-back losses but due to injuries to playmakers Sean O'Sullivan and Anthony Milford.In their stunning three-game winning run to start their debut season, the Dolphins barely suffered an injury.But the NRL season is a marathon and not a sprint and there have been questions about the Dolphins' depth since they announced their 30-man squad.And it doesn't get any easier next weekend with a trip to Townsville to take on the Cowboys in another Queensland derby.

Bennett's bold claim about ex-$1 million star

Wayne Bennett confirmed Anthony Milford will start at five-eighth for the Dolphins for an extended period, after halfback Sean O'Sullivan suffered a torn pectoral muscle in the 18-12 loss to Brisbane.Milford, a 207-game veteran, hadn't played NRL since August last year but was rushed into the side at No.6 against the Broncos on Friday, after 19-year-old Isaiya Katoa was still suffering the effects of an elbow injury.The former Bronco turned in a solid performance, setting up a try for Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow with a neat grubber, and kept his line in defence.The 28-year-old was a mainstay of Bennett's Broncos team from 2015 to 2018 but started this season in Queensland Cup after Katoa outplayed him in pre-season. Katoa was close to playing the Broncos and is tipped to take the field against the Dragons In Wollongong."There is a good opportunity for him now," Bennett said of Milford."He did enough tonight to make me happy enough to keep him there."Isaiya will probably come into halfback. We made him into a five-eighth but he is a halfback, Isaiya."Bennett said O'Sullivan will be out for a "little while" after the playmaker came off the field in the 61st minute. The team was already without the suspended Jeremy Marshall-King, and then lost experienced utility Kodi Nikorima with a deep cut to the head in the 26th minute, just two minutes after he had come on.That left Mason Teague and Ray Stone to share the dummy-half role, with neither of them regular No.9s."If we'd had a hooker we would have done a hell of a lot more," Bennett said.

Knights blow winning chance

Sadly the Knights have become a team that has forgotten how to win.Adam O'Brien's men did everything right in the second half in Canberra yesterday, coming from 14-0 down to lead 18-14 with time running down.But then experienced five- eighth Anthony Milford put in a little chip kick inside his own half rather than going for distance… and fullback Kalyn Ponga was nowhere to be found when forward Hudson Young put in a grubber kick to score the late winner for the Raiders.

Milford could ignite Knights' finals push

The Knights took a leap of faith by signing Anthony Milford recently but the enigmatic utility back proved his value in the 24-16 win over the Warriors.Milford provided the direction in attack the Knights had been missing in their run of outs, laying on a try and running for over 100 metres.He also took the pressure off Jake Clifford, allowing him to play one of his better games.When Milford runs the ball, he is world-class, and if he keeps playing the way he did against the Warriors, the Knights are a chance of making a late run for the finals.

Huge Milford question ahead of NRL comeback

Anthony Milford has shown few glimpses of his electric best since steering Brisbane to the 2015 NRL grand final, and he is yet to play this season because of a court case that hung over his head.The former Queensland State of Origin livewire will be free to make an NRL comeback with the Knights in round 11, which could see him combine with attacking weapons Kalyn Ponga, Dane Gagai and Bradman Best.But for now, doubts linger over the mental and physical conditioning of Milford, who began training with Newcastle on Wednesday.Rugby league legend Darren Lockyer stressed the importance of game time in a lower division."I think that would be a good pathway for him," Lockyer said on Wide World of Sports' QLDER.

Legends' ultimatum to desperate $1M NRL exile

Rugby league legends Andrew Johns and Brad Fittler have a simple message for exiled star Anthony Milford as he desperately strives to revive his NRL career.The 27-year-old is in limbo after he was charged with assault in September, but those charges are expected to now be dropped.Milford had signed a one-year deal with South Sydney before he was arrested. The NRL refused to register the contract following the police charges, but it's understood the Rabbitohs may have moved on now anyway.The playmaker has now been linked to a move to the Knights, whose halves depth is low following the departure of Mitchell Pearce.Milford was once considered the most talented playmaker in the NRL. It was the reason Brisbane made him the club's richest ever player, handing him $1 million a season to be their main man.But the last couple of years have seen a sad decline in his on-field performance. The Broncos cut him loose, having dropped him to reserve grade during the 2021 season.But with potentially years of football left in his body, Milford is desperate to get back in the NRL.Newcastle legend Johns has returned to the Knights this year in a coaching consultancy role.On Wide World of Sports' Freddy and The Eighth, Johns was asked about the club's links to Milford."I have no idea," Johns said.

Surprise target as Sharks go cold on Johnson

Cronulla is reportedly chasing Brisbane's off-contract five-eighth Anthony Milford, in a sign the club is likely to miss out on the signature of Adam Reynolds. The Broncos are considered the favourites to land Reynolds for 2022 and beyond, while the Sharks are believed to be prioritising the signing of Milford ahead of finalising a new deal with Shaun Johnson. Johnson is at the end of a three-year deal with Cronulla, but questions have been raised about his form in recent weeks, with the Sharks currently on a five match losing streak, a slump that has coincided with the axing of coach John Morris. "We seem to talk about Adam Reynolds all the time but there was a rumour going around that he would make a decision in the next 24 hours," The Australian's Brent Read said on NRL360. "The Broncos believe that it's just about over the line in Brisbane, I'm dubious about that. "I don't think that's the case but I think a decision is imminent, I think Brisbane can consider themselves frontrunners. "Speaking to Cronulla today their optimism is waning. They're considering some other targets, one of those is Anthony Milford.

Broncos turn up heat on struggling Milford

Kevin Walters dropped million-dollar man Anthony Milford to reserve grade last week but said it will take a lot more than what he delivered for Souths Logan to get him back into the NRL side. For the second week in a row the ex-Queensland Origin star has not been named in Brisbane's NRL side as he fights for not just his spot, but his future at the club. Last week was the first time in Milford's 185-game NRL career he was dropped to reserve grade, but it didn't have the immediate impact Walters was looking for. "Last week, it was a tough game," Walters said on Thursday. "I was out at Souths and watched it ... if I was to be honest, no he wasn't up to the standard that we believe he can play at. "But that's one game of four or five, however many it takes for him to get back to the football we know he can play." "It won't be my decision, it will be Anthony's decision as to whether he makes his way back into the team or not," Walters said. "He has been given some clear instructions about what he needs to do. When he does that he will be back into the side. "He needs to continue to do what Milf can do well and that's the points I made about ends of sets, and running game and defence." "Nah, we are very happy with our situation at the moment ... trying to sign Kotoni and having a good look at Tommy Dearden as well," he said. "He is part of our systems so at this stage we are not looking outside the circle. "We don't anticipate losing Tom."

Last chance for Brisbane Broncos halves, says Andrew Johns

Rugby league Immortal Andrew Johns says this week's game should be the last chance for the under-pressure Brisbane halves pairing of Brodie Croft and Anthony Milford. "There has to be a change there somewhere. If he [coach Kevin Walters] gives them one more opportunity and they fail against the Bulldogs, Dearden has to come in," Johns told Wide World of Sports' Freddy and The Eighth. Johns was scathing in his assessment of the pair's performances last Friday in a heavy defeat to local rivals, the Gold Coast Titans. "I saw no dominant player in the halves ... there was no talk, they didn't combine with each other," Johns said after being on the sideline at the game. "I actually got out of my seat, took my earpiece out and was listening. I could not hear [anything]. That's your job as a half, you have to do the thinking for people around you, especially the big forwards." Both Johns and Brad Fittler had slammed the halves on the weekend, and doubled down in the lead-up to this weekend's game. "They didn't combine with each other. There was a period through the game when they were behind, chasing points and they were on the attack inside the Titans' 20. Brodie Croft didn't touch the ball the whole set of six. I was like, what are youse doing?" Johns asked. In that game Brisbane led 16-0 before being run down by the Parramatta Eels. Fittler said too much change can be a bad thing, but conceded that a flat performance against the lowly Bulldogs this week could be a catalyst for change.

Broncos legends challenge Anthony Milford to lift in contract year

Brisbane Broncos legends Darren Lockyer and Sam Thaiday have challenged five-eighth Anthony Milford to take his game to another level as he nears the end of his current contract with the club.  While Milford's talent has never been questioned, his consistency has often been criticised - and even in Round One, it was a game of two halves for the polarising No.6. Brisbane led 16-0 at half time before hitting a wall and losing 24-16 to the Parramatta Eels. Despite the disappointing result, Lockyer said it was a "great start" for the 2020 wooden spooners, and defended his decision to award Milford one Dally M point. "Two of those tries were created through his brilliance," Lockyer told Wide World of Sports' QLDER "As a half, when you're 16-0 up, you get really disappointed you didn't close the game out, but there was a lot to like about a lot of performances and I thought Milford deserved a point." The 26-year-old accepted a one-year player option in the middle of last season, and 2021 will be the last year of a massive four-year contract extension that he signed in 2017.