Anthony Milford Discussion

[tommy]

- Ash Taylor, who came through school and club footy alongside my own son, is a pure bred halfback with all the skills we lack in our halves. He's going to be a top half in the future and I'm really worried we are going to lose him.

erm I hate to burst your bubble , but.........

 

[Porthoz]

erm I hate to burst your bubble , but.........

Yeah, that's a summary of my opinions from 2014 onward. Obviously and unfortunately, that one came true... :(

 

[Cult]

I'm a bit sick and tired of the continuous hyperbole and lies. Here are my opinions on the subject since at least 2014, and I dare anyone to prove otherwise:

- Jordan Kahu, whom I have followed for many years in his youth career since he came to Keebra Park, has been unlucky with his injuries, but he's a gun back with above average skills, who can play almost anywhere in the backline.
- Ash Taylor, who came through school and club footy alongside my own son, is a pure bred halfback with all the skills we lack in our halves. He's going to be a top half in the future and I'm really worried we are going to lose him.
- Hunt is a great tough running half, and I admire his loyalty to the club. Unfortunately, he lacks the kicking, control and organisation to be a top halfback. However he's a fantastic 5/8, but given we already have Milford there, who is a very similar player, but better, younger and with a bigger learning curve, I would prefer someone with the skills to compliment Milford.

Shock, horror, the hypocrisy!

For the record, I resisted Boyd's recruitment, because I knew he would automatically get the FB spot, when I preferred Milford as FB, Hunt as 5/8 and Taylor as HB, and if Boyd did come, I would've preferred him in the 3/4 line.

I've NEVER defended sacking Hunt or replacing him, unless we had someone better! We didn't last year.

P.S. I'll give anyone 3 guesses as to whom has been most critical of the above opinions in the last 3 years, and which players he has been bagging most since... I reckon no one will need all 3 guesses.

This is a bit off topic, but that wouldn't be like you would it?

 

[Cult]

@Porthoz I like that you didn't respond to the only issue I've had over the whole Hunt drama. It infiltrated every thread it could and was done to absolute death. Quit being a bitch because people questioned your biased opinions on players you've watched since they were teenagers.

 

[Big Pete]

The thing with Ben Hunt is that it wasn't a BHQ exclusive opinion or that members were speaking out of turn. The guy became a punchline after the 2015 Grand Final and I mean BHQ gave him the benefit of the doubt and when he wasn't setting the world on fire or showing any improvement which is where a lot of the excitement was coming from, that's when the fans started to lose confidence in him.

And I think the whole situation was grossly exaggerated. That's why I created those Ben Hunt threads, because I was sick of guys skirting around the issue and just wanted to see what the consensus was and no surprise the majority wanted Ben Hunt to stay. Even those who weren't his biggest fans, were willing to accept him in the side, even if they thought long-term he wouldn't be one of the best halves in the competition.

Regardless Hunt is gone. If some of you want to get rid of Milf and sign a new halves pairing altogether, I can see that point, even if I 100% disagree with it.

 

[KnToad]

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That's fecking GOLD!!

 

[Porthoz]

This is a bit off topic, but that wouldn't be like you would it?

Yes, I've moved this and the off topic posts leading up to this, to the correct thread.

@Porthoz I like that you didn't respond to the only issue I've had over the whole Hunt drama. It infiltrated every thread it could and was done to absolute death. Quit being a bitch because people questioned your biased opinions on players you've watched since they were teenagers.

You may have to look in the mirror for that one, special threads were created for the whole Hunt and Taylor thing, and I moved heaps of posts there.

And I assume you mean "correct opinions" on the only 2 players I've unequivocally backed to be stars in the NRL, from all those I've watched since they were teenagers.

 

[Cult]

Yes, I've moved this and the off topic posts leading up to this, to the correct thread.


You may have to look in the mirror for that one, special threads were created for the whole Hunt and Taylor thing, and I moved heaps of posts there.

And I assume you mean "correct opinions" on the only 2 players I've unequivocally backed to be stars in the NRL, from all those I've watched since they were teenagers.

So I was responding to nobody when I'd react to people talking about Hunt's problems in every thread? Braith Anasta said it best. You're off your head. Nobody has said those players were crap or even not good but the way you went on about the two of them you'd think they were paying you to promote them. Kahu is a great winger, Taylor has done sweet **** all so far but will be a good player eventually. But so far you're not right about him.

 

[Porthoz]

So I was responding to nobody when I'd react to people talking about Hunt's problems in every thread? Braith Anasta said it best. You're off your head. Nobody has said those players were crap or even not good but the way you went on about the two of them you'd think they were paying you to promote them. Kahu is a great winger, Taylor has done sweet **** all so far but will be a good player eventually. But so far you're not right about him.

OK, sure... let's go with that. :superhappythumbsup:

 

[Wild Horse]

I'm a bit sick and tired of the continuous hyperbole and lies. Here are my opinions on the subject since at least 2014, and I dare anyone to prove otherwise:

- Jordan Kahu, whom I have followed for many years in his youth career since he came to Keebra Park, has been unlucky with his injuries, but he's a gun back with above average skills, who can play almost anywhere in the backline.
- Ash Taylor, who came through school and club footy alongside my own son, is a pure bred halfback with all the skills we lack in our halves. He's going to be a top half in the future and I'm really worried we are going to lose him.
- Hunt is a great tough running half, and I admire his loyalty to the club. Unfortunately, he lacks the kicking, control and organisation to be a top halfback. However he's a fantastic 5/8, but given we already have Milford there, who is a very similar player, but better, younger and with a bigger learning curve, I would prefer someone with the skills to compliment Milford.

Shock, horror, the hypocrisy!

For the record, I resisted Boyd's recruitment, because I knew he would automatically get the FB spot, when I preferred Milford as FB, Hunt as 5/8 and Taylor as HB, and if Boyd did come, I would've preferred him in the 3/4 line.

I've NEVER defended sacking Hunt or replacing him, unless we had someone better! We didn't last year.

P.S. I'll give anyone 3 guesses as to whom has been most critical of the above opinions in the last 3 years, and which players he has been bagging most since... I reckon no one will need all 3 guesses.

That would have been so sweet... (Milford as FB, Hunt as 5/8 and Taylor as HB).

 

[Huge]

Milford and Hunt for that matter have never executed a whole of game plan. They may be given plans but have never followed them through for a whole match. During 2015 the team surprised us all but my guess, Hunt and Milford did as they pleased, more instinctual than conscious decision making and it masked a lot. I'm not sorry to see Hunt gone as he has proven that he is deeply scarred by the gf experience and he likely will always wilt and show fragility. Milford will only get better if he remains uncomfortable otherwise complacency will set in. At 22 he has plenty of upside and his contract should be incremental and not some flat million a year deal.

He is not making a first grade attempt at tackles. If you're shit at tackling you have to at least put your body in the way. His abysmal attempts have cost us games and if it doesn't improve we should, after giving him plenty of time and chances, release him. Seriously, if it doesn't get better and he refuses to at least get in the way then he will be a liability forever. Alfie knew how to tackle and even though they changed the rules, twice ! he kept on putting the big men down. I want Alf to teach Milford to tackle.

 

[mieko]

for all the "he's working hard at training, it will come" etc etc just seems a bit off to me. Sure he's done some work at general play kicking as this has improved for him but he clearly isn't putting in on the defensive part of training. His tackling is woeful, under 10ish at best.

Maybe he needs some time in the sandpit one on one with Blair or Gillete. As stated above, at least put your body in front of the runner, not arm grab from the side.

 

[Morkel]

Milford and Hunt for that matter have never executed a whole of game plan. They may be given plans but have never followed them through for a whole match. During 2015 the team surprised us all but my guess, Hunt and Milford did as they pleased, more instinctual than conscious decision making and it masked a lot. I'm not sorry to see Hunt gone as he has proven that he is deeply scarred by the gf experience and he likely will always wilt and show fragility. Milford will only get better if he remains uncomfortable otherwise complacency will set in. At 22 he has plenty of upside and his contract should be incremental and not some flat million a year deal.

He is not making a first grade attempt at tackles. If you're shit at tackling you have to at least put your body in the way. His abysmal attempts have cost us games and if it doesn't improve we should, after giving him plenty of time and chances, release him. Seriously, if it doesn't get better and he refuses to at least get in the way then he will be a liability forever. Alfie knew how to tackle and even though they changed the rules, twice ! he kept on putting the big men down. I want Alf to teach Milford to tackle.

The tackling may even be where it needs to start. "Get your defence right and the rest will come". It's not just with teams, it's with individual players too.

We saw the difference it made when Hunt ripped in the other week, picked up and drove an opposition player in to the in-goal for a repeat set. That's probably what Milford needs to do. Just put his body on the line and rip in.

One thing I mentioned when things started going downhill last year was Milford's inability or unwillingness to adapt. When he takes apart a team like the Eels, that, let's be honest, had pretty shitty defence that night, it reaffirms in his head that the sideways step, pirouette, duck under and hope to slip through is the most effective tactic. It's not, we all know that, not unless the circumstances are set up for it. But he's been able to get away with it his whole life. Now that he's up against quality defence, he doesn't have a plan B.

That's where the defence comes in. At the moment he probably feels like a kid amongst giants (weight jokes aside). He's too small to prevent being manhandled by the opposition, on both sides of the ball. But if can improve his tackling technique, and actively go looking for the collision instead of shying away or avoiding it all together with arm grabs, it'll give him confidence with the ball in hand too. He won't need to treat the game like tough footy, where you try to avoid all contact with the opposition defence. He'll be able to rip in better with the ball in hand, and even if he isn't able to get through the line as often as he (or we) would like, it would be far more useful for the team as he'll no longer be an easy target in defence, where they just surround him and take away all of his options.

Why was he so much better in 2015? Because Bennett didn't bog him down with attacking patterns and complexities. As we saw, he was pretty much able to concentrate on getting acquainted with the team and getting defensive structures right. The result? His was able to play off that confidence and he looked much freer and happier.

 

[Battler]

The thing with Ben Hunt is that it wasn't a BHQ exclusive opinion or that members were speaking out of turn. The guy became a punchline after the 2015 Grand Final and I mean BHQ gave him the benefit of the doubt and when he wasn't setting the world on fire or showing any improvement which is where a lot of the excitement was coming from, that's when the fans started to lose confidence in him.

And I think the whole situation was grossly exaggerated. That's why I created those Ben Hunt threads, because I was sick of guys skirting around the issue and just wanted to see what the consensus was and no surprise the majority wanted Ben Hunt to stay. Even those who weren't his biggest fans, were willing to accept him in the side, even if they thought long-term he wouldn't be one of the best halves in the competition.

Regardless Hunt is gone. If some of you want to get rid of Milf and sign a new halves pairing altogether, I can see that point, even if I 100% disagree with it.

It really depends on who we get as a replacement, but I definitely don't think Hunt is good for this team, not as a halfback anyway. We need an actual half back with a solid kicking game, not two running five eights. Even a robot like Hodko or Soward (not suggesting him as an option, just an example) would improve us immensely, especially with the big Middle forwards we have coming through in: Pangai, Ese'Ese, Lodge, Haas, etc.

Milford, for all of his shit form, is touching the ball far more than Hunt at the moment, especially in the opposition 20. I'm not sure if it's a directive or what, but Hunt is a passenger in 2017 thus far.

 

[Super Freak]

Milford, for all of his shit form, is touching the ball far more than Hunt at the moment, especially in the opposition 20. I'm not sure if it's a directive or what, but Hunt is a passenger in 2017 thus far.

He isn't.

Hunt has 16 more possessions than Milf.

Calling Hunt a passenger? Come on.. I don't see how anyone that's watching the games could call Hunt a passenger. He is working his ass off out there. It might not be coming together, but he isn't a passenger.

One example, the Storm game. It was Hunt that got us in the lead. He also worked his ass off in defence, coming up with a couple of try savers.

 

[Foordy]

Milford, for all of his shit form, is touching the ball far more than Hunt at the moment, especially in the opposition 20. I'm not sure if it's a directive or what, but Hunt is a passenger in 2017 thus far.

if Hunt is a passenger in 2017 ... then Milford isn't even in the car!

 

[Harry Sack]

He isn't.

Hunt has 16 more possessions than Milf.

Calling Hunt a passenger? Come on.. I don't see how anyone that's watching the games could call Hunt a passenger. He is working his ass off out there. It might not be coming together, but he isn't a passenger.

One example, the Storm game. It was Hunt that got us in the lead. He also worked his ass off in defence, coming up with a couple of try savers.

I'm guessing he typed Hunt instead of Milford by accident tbh

 

[KnToad]

All this talk about Milf looking for $900k-$1m a season might be unders....

According to an article about what Cooper Cronk could earn in Sydney the Broncos have offered Milf much more....??

"The Broncos have also reportedly offered star five-eighth Anthony Milford a deal worth $1.5 million per season — if the NRL salary cap rises substantially to the $10.4 million mark previously forecast."

Now we all know some of these so called journos have a penchant for making stuff up to fill in a story but if this has any credence at all then everyone from Paul White down is off their rockers.

Simply can't be true.... can it??

http://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/co...ed after 12-0 Barca defeat&itmt=1491358104419