NEWS Kevvie on Milford's contract renewal: right now you'd have to say "no"

Kevin Walters is asked whether Anthony Milford has earned a new contract:

“That’s a work in progress, right now you’d have to say no."

“We need to see ‘Milf’ playing better but I’m extremely confident we can get the best out of Anthony Milford. We’re four weeks into a 25-round competition plus finals. We’re in no hurry and Anthony’s in no hurry. As long as we keep building and getting better, that’s all I’m concerned with. It’s about taking small steps. Everything we’re doing is based around that. It’s all small-picture and trying to get better each week."

"Milf has played some good football this year at stages. We are backing him all the way. He is under a lot of pressure, as is everyone in a Broncos jersey at the moment. It’s about taking little steps at a time to improve and I feel Anthony is certainly having a crack. That’s what I like about him. If and when I believe that stops happening then things will change.”

“I don’t feel there’s any uncertainty around our halves. We’ve got two good halfbacks vying for a position. There is great competition there between them and that’s what’s good about the club. Both players have got areas in their games they are working on and moving forward to get better at."

“The plan is to get those two playing well and improve on what they’ve been building on. I’ve seen some great signs there and some areas we need to be better. The players are aware of that. We’ve had good conversations this week around the three of them (Milford included) and the role they need to play in the side. The competition is about trying to get better each week. I expect those guys to be better.”

“We’re really keen to hang on to Kotoni Staggs, we believe he has a bright future at the Broncos regardless of what position he plays for us. I’m sure he can play back-row, halves and centre. He can play several positions. Right now our major focus is to retain the services of Kotoni and then we will place him somewhere in those positions over the next 12 months.”

“We’re always in the market. You guys (media) should know that. Every club is on the lookout if players become available. We will be looking, but right now we’re trying to re-sign four or five of our junior players. That’s where our major focus has been, trying to secure those guys. There’s a big, bad world out there in the player market and my job is to coach the side. We’ve got other people in our organisation to look after those areas.”

McHunt

 

[Cult]

Would we even be sure that Milford wouldn’t just give the game away and play part time if he doesn’t get re-signed? He just seems to not really give a shit about footy and has earned his money. Plus nobody seems to be chasing him when every off contract player of ours is offered overs by 15 other teams.

 

[Alec]

With a full preseason and on a heavily, heavily reduced one year contract, would you give Milf one last chance at the club but as a fullback? I'm talking a 300k contract max.

Nah, he doesn't have the drive to play there (he doesn't even seem to have the drive to play in his preferred position either) and his once elite running game has well and truly dropped off the face of the flat earth.

 

[Xzei]

Would we even be sure that Milford wouldn’t just give the game away and play part time if he doesn’t get re-signed? He just seems to not really give a shit about footy and has earned his money. Plus nobody seems to be chasing him when every off contract player of ours is offered overs by 15 other teams.

Franchise Opportunities | Macca's Careers | McDonald's AU

Franchise Opportunities at Macca's® provide a range of personal growth and experience benefits. Become the boss of your own Macca's® restaurant today!

mcdonalds.com.au

Maybe he should look into it

 

[heartly87]

With a full preseason and on a heavily, heavily reduced one year contract, would you give Milf one last chance at the club but as a fullback? I'm talking a 300k contract max.

No, as he has stated it is not the position he wants to play. His attitude will not improve and he doesn't believe in his body enough to even try. I would not be surprised to see him leave/retire from the game if his contact isn't renewed at the Broncos. Something tells me he is just not that invested. The only other option would be GC.

I feel for the bloke because the club should have provided him with a proper half to control the game way back when Hunt left instead of giving him control and essentially killing his natural ability with over coaching. A guy who played act first think after footy is now play, think first, question your actions footy resulting in half hearted plays and go-to plays like the bomb. Sad.

 

[Huge]

I'm not even sure his work ethic is actually the problem. Sure all the online experts think he's a lazy ****...but....I dunno.

I think you're closer to the mark that in his earlier years....his natural ability got him to the heights he was being seen at, but even when he made the switch to Brisbane......what was working for him easily at the Raiders....wasn't coming so easy anymore. He has struggled to find the way around that ever since.....

He just can't find the same time and space that he had so easily when he first come onto the scene......

Welll, I can see Milford lifting his defensive efforts so that's definitely a bonus. If he starts dropping off tackles or reverts to his previous standard I don't see KW persisting with him as a starter. I think Milford should be there IF he stays solid in defence.

I can picture Milford being less of a problem than before. He might even start to believe he's on the improve especially if KWs telling him he's happier with him. That would be a good mindset for Milford. He's better now so if he keeps following KWs advice, who knows?

 

[Mr Fourex]

Its often been said that if you can get your defence right.......everything else starts to fall into place. Hopefully that will be the case with Milford.

That said......FMD, we have got so much more wrong with the team than just Anthony Milford.

 

[winslow_wong]

So now that Morgan has officially retired, will the cowboys be interested in Milford?

 

[I bleed Maroon]

So now that Morgan has officially retired, will the cowboys be interested in Milford?

Just a gut feeling, but I suspect the club have been shopping Milford around for weeks, and just have not had a single bite, which is understandable. The Cows tune might change now that Morgan is done for but I think the fact they completely overlooked Milford and went straight after Dearden is pretty telling. Even the Bulldogs aren't willing to take him on it seems, and if I were Milford (and actually gave a shit) I would find that extremely concerning.

 

[McHunt]

Johns says drop Milford, bring in KHunt to train Dearden and pull the other young blokes into line. I agree with him. Might as well piss the season up against the wall as persist with Milford, and it's time to make a decision on Dearden as well. If KHunt can't put a rocket up Turpin, he might have to go as well:

Nine's Wide World of Sports, Match Results & Live Scores

Nine Wide World of Sports breaking news headlines, live scores and match results

wwos.nine.com.au

 

[winslow_wong]

Just a gut feeling, but I suspect the club have been shopping Milford around for weeks, and just have not had a single bite, which is understandable. The Cows tune might change now that Morgan is done for but I think the fact they completely overlooked Milford and went straight after Dearden is pretty telling. Even the Bulldogs aren't willing to take him on it seems, and if I were Milford (and actually gave a shit) I would find that extremely concerning.

You could be on the money. His plays lately have been from a man desperate to impress. Hoping for the miracle tries instead of showing potential clubs he can manage a game.

 

[Midean]

Johns says drop Milford, bring in KHunt to train Dearden and pull the other young blokes into line. I agree with him. Might as well piss the season up against the wall as persist with Milford, and it's time to make a decision on Dearden as well. If KHunt can't put a rocket up Turpin, he might have to go as well:

Nine's Wide World of Sports, Match Results & Live Scores

Nine Wide World of Sports breaking news headlines, live scores and match results

wwos.nine.com.au

So thats Johns, Fitler, Gus, JT, Slater, Cronk, Tallis, Ennis, Sterlo, Anasta, Ikin, Kent, Vossy, Meninga, Brandy, and even Yvonne all saying Milf should be either dropped or moved on.
Even the clowns on the Matty Johns show all agree he is done.
When will Kevvie realize it?

 

[I bleed Maroon]

I could be wrong (because when it comes to this club you can never be sure of the obvious being done), but I think the bell might be tolling for Milford. Every pundit in the game calling for his head, Johns bringing up Karmichael Hunt on Thursday night as a potential replacement to avoid Dearden + Croft, the noise is just getting too loud for the club to ignore.

If Penrith put 40+ on us and Milford has another nuffie game, I think we will see KHunt in the 6 by Tuesday week.

 

[Sproj]

I could be wrong (because when it comes to this club you can never be sure of the obvious being done), but I think the bell might be tolling for Milford. Every pundit in the game calling for his head, Johns bringing up Karmichael Hunt on Thursday night as a potential replacement to avoid Dearden + Croft, the noise is just getting too loud for the club to ignore.

If Penrith put 40+ on us and Milford has another nuffie game, I think we will see KHunt in the 6 by Tuesday week.

I feel like this happens every week though.

 

[Huge]

Its often been said that if you can get your defence right.......everything else starts to fall into place. Hopefully that will be the case with Milford.

That said......FMD, we have got so much more wrong with the team than just Anthony Milford.

Working with just what we have how would you coach them for the rest of the year? I'd like to hear your thoughts on how you'd
train them and how you'd play them, even what you'd do with our bench. Not talking about buying someone in but just using our current resources.

 

[Foordy]

So thats Johns, Fitler, Gus, JT, Slater, Cronk, Tallis, Ennis, Sterlo, Anasta, Ikin, Kent, Vossy, Meninga, Brandy, and even Yvonne all saying Milf should be either dropped or moved on.
Even the clowns on the Matty Johns show all agree he is done.
When will Kevvie realize it?

It's all well and good to say he's done ... but what's the point replacing him with someone worse ...

The fact that Kevvie said that at this stage he hasn't done enough to earn a new contract suggests he knows Milford is done, but no point constantly criticising his only realistic 5/8, possibly making him play worse.

When Staggs is ready to return, I suspect things will change

 

[Jedhead]

But Staggs will need a few games to get his confidence back in his leg so he'll start at centre i reckon.

1.Herbie
6. Staggs
7. Reynolds
9 Starling
This is the spine I'd be going for if I was Kevvie, as it's very achievable and can be in place for the start of next year.

That is a spine to get us going. With Deardon learning his craft in the ISC within two years we could be genuine GF contenders as our young forwards will be so much more experienced too.

 

[simplythebest]

I'd rather see Staggs come back through Q Cup, playing in the 6 from word go. This would give him game time to get some confidence back in his knee and time to get confident in playing in the halves with bugger all pressure.

If he carves up and goes well, brilliant. If not, bring him back into first grade int he centres instead.

 

[theshed]

I'd rather see Staggs come back through Q Cup, playing in the 6 from word go. This would give him game time to get some confidence back in his knee and time to get confident in playing in the halves with bugger all pressure.

If he carves up and goes well, brilliant. If not, bring him back into first grade int he centres instead.

Based on Kev’s current form for changing his mind on a whim, Staggs at 6 will last all of 2 rounds.