Bennett blocks Milf from playing for Samoa
- Thread starter I bleed Maroon
- Start date
- Mar 4, 2008
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none of them played for Australia as they did for a tier 2 nation. they also only switched once in their 2 year period
- Jan 25, 2013
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I can speculate 'till I'm Blue in the face but I won't.
- Jan 25, 2013
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The only difference is that in those days their 2nd tier nation didn't have a game on mid-year to potentially call them up.
Might as well bitch about Queensland winning all those Origins with a concussed Dallas Johnson. Why wasn't he taken off for a SCAT test?!?!?
Might as well bitch about Queensland winning all those Origins with a concussed Dallas Johnson. Why wasn't he taken off for a SCAT test?!?!?
I look forward to your posts. They always deliver.
- Jan 25, 2014
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SAMOA have expressed their disappointment in Anthony Milford but hope the Broncos sensation has not played his last game for his native country.
The credibility of Test football suffered a major blow last week when Broncos coach Wayne Bennett blocked Milford from representing Samoa in Saturday night’s Pacific Test against Tonga.
Samoa coach Matt Parish claimed Milford wanted to play against Tonga, although it later emerged the Brisbane pivot feared doing so could harm his chances of representing Queensland and Australia.
Samoan team manager Tony Puletua played alongside Milford at the 2013 World Cup and said the squad was surprised by his absence given his passion for the blue jumper.
“The boys are disappointed Anthony wasn’t able to play,” said Puletua, the former Penrith stalwart who played 10 games for Samoa between 2008-13.
“They have to move on with the week. We have a huge game on Saturday so everyone has to focus on trying to beat Tonga.
“To not have someone of Anthony’s talent is a huge loss. As tough as it is, we have selected a team that we feel can do the job on the weekend and we have every faith in the guys to do the job.
“Playing with him at the last World Cup, he was very passionate. Anthony loved representing Samoa. When I saw him at training, I said he will be a superstar in the NRL, and look at him now.
“It was always going to be a tough choice for Anthony after he pledged his allegiance to Queensland and Australia.
When those teams are fighting for his services, it’s obvious who he’s going to choose.”
Puletua urged international officials to amend eligibility laws allowing a player such as Milford to play for a tier-two nation if not selected for Queensland or Australia.
“I’d love to see the rules changed so that Anthony can play for Samoa if he can’t play for Queensland or Australia,” he said.
“If a guy isn’t picked for Origin or Australia, they should be able to play for their second-tier nation. The rules make it tougher for us smaller nations but we have to cop it on the chin and move on.
“I just hope it’s not the last we’ve seen of Anthony in the Samoan jumper because he is great for international football.’’
Samoa are the highest-ranked nation outside New Zealand, Australia and England and can cement fourth spot with victory over 16th-ranked Tonga at Parramatta’s Pirtek Stadium.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...y/news-story/bec6a480ee32c8fd796adc899f1f5442
The credibility of Test football suffered a major blow last week when Broncos coach Wayne Bennett blocked Milford from representing Samoa in Saturday night’s Pacific Test against Tonga.
Samoa coach Matt Parish claimed Milford wanted to play against Tonga, although it later emerged the Brisbane pivot feared doing so could harm his chances of representing Queensland and Australia.
Samoan team manager Tony Puletua played alongside Milford at the 2013 World Cup and said the squad was surprised by his absence given his passion for the blue jumper.
“The boys are disappointed Anthony wasn’t able to play,” said Puletua, the former Penrith stalwart who played 10 games for Samoa between 2008-13.
“They have to move on with the week. We have a huge game on Saturday so everyone has to focus on trying to beat Tonga.
“To not have someone of Anthony’s talent is a huge loss. As tough as it is, we have selected a team that we feel can do the job on the weekend and we have every faith in the guys to do the job.
“Playing with him at the last World Cup, he was very passionate. Anthony loved representing Samoa. When I saw him at training, I said he will be a superstar in the NRL, and look at him now.
“It was always going to be a tough choice for Anthony after he pledged his allegiance to Queensland and Australia.
When those teams are fighting for his services, it’s obvious who he’s going to choose.”
Puletua urged international officials to amend eligibility laws allowing a player such as Milford to play for a tier-two nation if not selected for Queensland or Australia.
“I’d love to see the rules changed so that Anthony can play for Samoa if he can’t play for Queensland or Australia,” he said.
“If a guy isn’t picked for Origin or Australia, they should be able to play for their second-tier nation. The rules make it tougher for us smaller nations but we have to cop it on the chin and move on.
“I just hope it’s not the last we’ve seen of Anthony in the Samoan jumper because he is great for international football.’’
Samoa are the highest-ranked nation outside New Zealand, Australia and England and can cement fourth spot with victory over 16th-ranked Tonga at Parramatta’s Pirtek Stadium.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...y/news-story/bec6a480ee32c8fd796adc899f1f5442
broncos4life
International Captain
- Oct 5, 2011
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Yeah, having grown up in Brisbane myself, I do miss the Samoa days.
Taylor1921
QCup Player
- Apr 18, 2014
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It's the NRL's fault he's not playing not Wayne. I find it funny the first article was directed at Wayne and how he could do such a thing and made out like he and Milford are in disagreement. And now the explanation comes out. And NSW don't want to publicate it. I hate the NSW media I really do awful writers.
- Sep 8, 2009
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The funny thing is Peter Badel wrote that story. I'd expect it to come from the ramblings of Buzz Rothfield.
- Mar 4, 2008
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Brisbane Broncos star Anthony Milford wanted to play for Samoa against Tonga says Matt Parish
Samoa coach Matt Parish believes Anthony Milford definitely wanted to play in Saturday's Test against Tonga.
The Broncos five-eighth was instead limited to a social media spectator on Saturday night, tweeting numerous well wishes to his countrymen during and after their thrilling 24-22 win in Parramatta.
Milford had originally been named by Parish to lead Samoa against Tonga during the representative round, but was dramatically blocked by club coach Wayne Bennett a fortnight ago.
There was a school of thought that the mastercoach was simply taking a bullet for his gifted playmaker, who feared ruining his chances of representing Queensland or Australia later on in the year.
But Parish moved to clarify the situation after the win, claiming he had a number of texts from Milford that showed how desperate he wanted to be on the field against Tonga.
"One, he shouldn't have been denied the opportunity to play tonight. And he shouldn't be put in a position where he has to choose," Parish said.
"I think Josh McGuire showed last year what it meant to play for Samoa.
"The boys were all really proud of where he's got to now and what he did (for the Kangaroos) last night, he was terrific. We've got no doubt Tony will do the same thing."
Parish praised Super League side Hull FC for releasing star pair Frank Pritchard and Tonga counterpart Sika Manu to travel around the world and feature in the one-off Test.
"I think Hull show a lot of respect for representative football. It's a shame the clubs in Australia don't do the same thing," he said.
Tonga coach Kristian Woolf said he hadn't experienced as many availability issues this year compared to previous years, but was still flummoxed by the current eligibility rules that prevented a number of stars from turning out for him.
"I get text messages all day and phone calls all week about blokes wanting to play. There's plenty of blokes who'd love to be in camp," he said.
"(But) as a result of the rules, unfortunately they're not able to.
"You chuck some guys who are watching rep footy this weekend, you chuck a Tui Lolohea or a Will Hopoate or someone like that into those sides, they give you some class and some skill.
"That goes along with the toughness and all the other things that we've already got there, and it certainly adds to the game."
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/brisbane-broncos-star-anthony-milford-wanted-to-play-for-samoa-against-tonga-says-matt-parish-20160507-gop0oe.html
Samoa coach Matt Parish believes Anthony Milford definitely wanted to play in Saturday's Test against Tonga.
The Broncos five-eighth was instead limited to a social media spectator on Saturday night, tweeting numerous well wishes to his countrymen during and after their thrilling 24-22 win in Parramatta.
Milford had originally been named by Parish to lead Samoa against Tonga during the representative round, but was dramatically blocked by club coach Wayne Bennett a fortnight ago.
There was a school of thought that the mastercoach was simply taking a bullet for his gifted playmaker, who feared ruining his chances of representing Queensland or Australia later on in the year.
But Parish moved to clarify the situation after the win, claiming he had a number of texts from Milford that showed how desperate he wanted to be on the field against Tonga.
"One, he shouldn't have been denied the opportunity to play tonight. And he shouldn't be put in a position where he has to choose," Parish said.
"I think Josh McGuire showed last year what it meant to play for Samoa.
"The boys were all really proud of where he's got to now and what he did (for the Kangaroos) last night, he was terrific. We've got no doubt Tony will do the same thing."
Parish praised Super League side Hull FC for releasing star pair Frank Pritchard and Tonga counterpart Sika Manu to travel around the world and feature in the one-off Test.
"I think Hull show a lot of respect for representative football. It's a shame the clubs in Australia don't do the same thing," he said.
Tonga coach Kristian Woolf said he hadn't experienced as many availability issues this year compared to previous years, but was still flummoxed by the current eligibility rules that prevented a number of stars from turning out for him.
"I get text messages all day and phone calls all week about blokes wanting to play. There's plenty of blokes who'd love to be in camp," he said.
"(But) as a result of the rules, unfortunately they're not able to.
"You chuck some guys who are watching rep footy this weekend, you chuck a Tui Lolohea or a Will Hopoate or someone like that into those sides, they give you some class and some skill.
"That goes along with the toughness and all the other things that we've already got there, and it certainly adds to the game."
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/brisbane-broncos-star-anthony-milford-wanted-to-play-for-samoa-against-tonga-says-matt-parish-20160507-gop0oe.html
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broncos4life
International Captain
- Oct 5, 2011
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Hey Parish, pics or it didn't happen bro.
- Mar 5, 2008
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Of course he 'wanted' to play, why wouldn't he want to? He was probably gutted he wasn't able to be out there with his countrymen taking on the Tongans.
He made a choice not to though - that doesn't mean he didn't want to be out there, it just means he's thinking about his future and the possibility of representative footy for Queensland and/or Australia.
He made a choice not to though - that doesn't mean he didn't want to be out there, it just means he's thinking about his future and the possibility of representative footy for Queensland and/or Australia.
He was born in Brisbane wasnt he?? I am sure he wanted to represent his families heritage, but he must have wanted something else more, otherwise he would have. No way anyone MADE him not play. He may have been advised not too, but ultimately would have been his choice. The keyboard warrior bashing Wayne has had to receive is bullshit and i think Milf should maybe put it all to rest by commenting on the situation and standing up for his OWN decision
