Danoz Direct
NRL Captain
- Oct 12, 2013
- 3,800
- 1,285
[h=1][/h]
WAYNE Bennett will move to scupper poaching raids on Anthony Milford by handing the Brisbane whiz-kid a $3 million upgrade that will make him a Bronco for life.
The Courier-Mail can reveal the Broncos will begin talks with Milford’s management on a new, multi-year contract after Sunday’s NRL grand final against the Cowboys.
And Milford has made it clear he is going nowhere.
On Saturday, having piloted Brisbane to the big dance with a five-star display against the Roosters, he sent a text message to his agent Sam Ayoub which read: “One more mate ... I can’t thank you enough for bringing me home”.
The quick-stepping dynamo is the hottest five-eighth property in the NRL and could ostensibly name his price if he tested his value on the open market.
But Bennett and Brisbane’s recruitment arm have already formulated strategic plans to ensure the lethal Milford-Ben Hunt scrumbase alliance will not be broken for a decade.
In November, upon Bennett’s arrival, the club furtively handed Milford a 12-month extension, pushing out his tenure at Red Hill until 2017.
Now, in the wake of Milford’s remarkable debut season at Red Hill, the Broncos will discuss a four-year upgrade to keep the Maroons hopeful until the end of 2021.
Milford has starred in his first season with the Broncos.With the NRL salary cap to rise to as much as $10 million over the term of the code’s next TV rights deal, Milford stands to pocket at least $750,000 a season.
Milford was embroiled in a bitter tug of war when he activated a get-out clause to quit Canberra last season, but Ayoub says the silky pivot wants to remain at Brisbane for the long haul.
“At the end of day, he has settled in and he can’t be happier with the Broncos. He’d love to finish his career here if that’s possible,” Ayoub said.
“We initially signed Anthony for two years (until the end of 2016) but we actually did a small upgrade with the Broncos without announcing it to anybody.
“It was just for one year. We’re in no rush but if the Broncos want to go for a longer term, we’ll certainly be happy to look at it.
“He enjoyed his time at Canberra and in fairness they were very good to him, but home is where the heart is and Anthony’s family in Brisbane was the trump card.”
The 21-year old has scored tries in both of the Broncos finals matches.Ayoub also manages Cowboys champion Johnathan Thurston and says Milford can cultivate a Thurston-style legacy at Red Hill.
“Anthony is like Johnathan, he had to go away to make it but JT has since settled at the Cowboys for 13 years and hopefully Anthony can do what JT did,” he said.
“It’s a great fit. Anthony feels comfortable with Wayne (Bennett), he lets him play natural football and if something doesn’t come off, Wayne doesn’t rip into him.”
Milford credited Bennett and assistants Kevin Walters and Allan Langer for helping him realise his potential in Brisbane’s No. 6 hot seat.
“To be at the big dance, I can’t be happier and it’s been the right move for me,” he said.
“Wayne changed it all for me, he has made this grand final happen for us as a group.
“I owe a lot to ‘Alfie’ and ‘Kevvie’, they have been there all year for me and Benny Hunt and I’ll take some pointers from them for the game this week.”
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/nrl-grand-final-anthony-milford-set-to-ink-contract-extension-with-brisbane/story-fnp0lyn6-1227551122915
The Courier-Mail can reveal the Broncos will begin talks with Milford’s management on a new, multi-year contract after Sunday’s NRL grand final against the Cowboys.
And Milford has made it clear he is going nowhere.
The quick-stepping dynamo is the hottest five-eighth property in the NRL and could ostensibly name his price if he tested his value on the open market.
But Bennett and Brisbane’s recruitment arm have already formulated strategic plans to ensure the lethal Milford-Ben Hunt scrumbase alliance will not be broken for a decade.
In November, upon Bennett’s arrival, the club furtively handed Milford a 12-month extension, pushing out his tenure at Red Hill until 2017.
Now, in the wake of Milford’s remarkable debut season at Red Hill, the Broncos will discuss a four-year upgrade to keep the Maroons hopeful until the end of 2021.
Milford was embroiled in a bitter tug of war when he activated a get-out clause to quit Canberra last season, but Ayoub says the silky pivot wants to remain at Brisbane for the long haul.
“At the end of day, he has settled in and he can’t be happier with the Broncos. He’d love to finish his career here if that’s possible,” Ayoub said.
“We initially signed Anthony for two years (until the end of 2016) but we actually did a small upgrade with the Broncos without announcing it to anybody.
“It was just for one year. We’re in no rush but if the Broncos want to go for a longer term, we’ll certainly be happy to look at it.
“He enjoyed his time at Canberra and in fairness they were very good to him, but home is where the heart is and Anthony’s family in Brisbane was the trump card.”
“Anthony is like Johnathan, he had to go away to make it but JT has since settled at the Cowboys for 13 years and hopefully Anthony can do what JT did,” he said.
“It’s a great fit. Anthony feels comfortable with Wayne (Bennett), he lets him play natural football and if something doesn’t come off, Wayne doesn’t rip into him.”
Milford credited Bennett and assistants Kevin Walters and Allan Langer for helping him realise his potential in Brisbane’s No. 6 hot seat.
“To be at the big dance, I can’t be happier and it’s been the right move for me,” he said.
“Wayne changed it all for me, he has made this grand final happen for us as a group.
“I owe a lot to ‘Alfie’ and ‘Kevvie’, they have been there all year for me and Benny Hunt and I’ll take some pointers from them for the game this week.”
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/nrl-grand-final-anthony-milford-set-to-ink-contract-extension-with-brisbane/story-fnp0lyn6-1227551122915
