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Storm would of put in the big chase I believe, Cronk even spoke to the media about it. But I'm really happy with Milf getting a long term contract of 1mill a year, it's what I wanted him to get to begin with.
Anthony Milford to sign $4 million contract extension with Broncos
ANTHONY Milford will sign a $4 million contract extension with the Broncos on Sunday after today rejecting a club-record $1.2 million offer from the Melbourne Storm.
The Courier-Mail can reveal Milford will sacrifice $800,000 to remain at the Broncos as he prepares to ink a deal keeping him at Red Hill until the end of 2021.
Wayne Bennett vowed he would not lose the fight for Milford and the Broncos super coach has delivered, securing the playmaker he is grooming to be a 10-year Brisbane player.
Broncos hierarchy were advised this morning that Milford had informed Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy he is not the man to replace Cooper Cronk at the Storm next season.
The news comes as a huge relief for the Broncos, who were poised to announce a new deal for Milford before an eleventh-hour poaching bid from the Storm.
The Storm’s offer was more lucrative than that of the Broncos, who originally discussed a three-year arrangement for Milford worth $900,000 a season.
But as revealed by The Courier-Mail, the Broncos yesterday upped the ante, hitting back with a four-year deal that makes Milford the first $1 million player in Brisbane’s 29-year history.
The Broncos could not afford to lose Milford after Ben Hunt’s decision to join the Dragons next season on a $5.4 million deal and he is now safe and secure at Red Hill.
The Storm, meanwhile, must continue the hunt for a marquee playmaker to succeed Cronk, who will quit the club at season’s end.
Melbourne were so keen on luring Milford that even Maroons skipper Cameron Smith entered the equation, personally phoning the Origin hopeful spruiking the culture of the Storm.
But Milford has chosen to stay loyal to the Broncos, who will formalise his retention after the five-eighth completes his international duties for Samoa against England tomorrow night.
In an exclusive interview, Bennett told The Courier-Mail last night: “I’m confident of keeping Anthony”.
Asked if he was surprised by Melbourne’s eleventh-hour poaching bid, Bennett said: “No I’m not, Anthony is a talented player and a guy of his ability is always going to attract interest.
“But we’re continuing negotiations and I’m still confident he will stay here.”
EAD storm.
Storm will fall apart in the next two years.
Smith and Slater will retire after 2019.
Bellache will also retire because he doesn't want to exposed as the plodder that he is - only capable of coaching a team with 3 future immortals in it (remember his failure at origin level).
Good riddance to the dirtiest cheating club of all time.
“I am trying not to manipulate this situation."
Yes indeed...
There is no rule that says a club cannot announce a player is leaving within that 10 day cooling off period. Sharks were well within their rights to do that.
That is more than a little unfair. Bellamy has consistently made average players, journeymen and second stringers at other clubs look like guns when at the Storm and then rubbish again when they leave. In origin he came up against one of the best sides put together of all time (almost half of whom he could claim at different times with the likes of Smith, Cronk, Slater, Inglis, Folau, Chambers). He had to try and beat them with a bunch of losers in blue shirts. Any coach could have and has found that hard.
***** though.....
Not bellamy ! Smith , cronk and slater made them look good . Not saying he is a bad coach either , just those players deserve most of the credit
No doubt but if we learned anything from the Henjak and Griffin years, its that a coach DOES make a big difference, regardless of what Shane Warne might think.