Milford ruled out of World Cup

[Super Freak]

Wayne Bennett has confirmed that Milford will not be taking place in the World Cup.

Brisbane coach Bennett said Milford must go under the knife at the end of the NRL season, which would rule him out of the World Cup despite the player being eager to showcase his talents on the big stage.

"[Playing] at the World Cup? Yeah that's Milford's idea of getting out of surgery. He's no chance," Bennett said.

"I'm happy for him to play but he knows what has to happen and I know what has to happen.

"Our intentions are for him to have surgery when the season is over. There is no alternative to that. There's no grey area."

http://www.sportingnews.com/au/leag...y-league-world-cup/1x93ul2y6ac59144jl874f96np

 

[Cult]

"Breaking: Bennett forces Milford to pull out of the World Cup so he can't represent his beloved Samoa"- Rugby league media everywhere

 

[Kyall]

This is a smart choice by Both Bennett and Milford. It is a shame because Milford was definitely in line to be picked for Australia

 

[Allo]

This is a smart choice by Both Bennett and Milford. It is a shame because Milford was definitely in line to be picked for Australia

Maybe for the squad. But highly doubt he'd play

 

[Painin the Haas]

Definite starter...for Samoa no way playing for Aussies this year

 

[Harry Sack]

2 options:

1. Play for Aus/Samoa and miss games for the Broncos due to surgery
2. Have the surgery as soon as the seasons done and be back in time for 2018.

Pretty simple really tbh

 

[badyon]

"Breaking: Bennett forces Milford to pull out of the World Cup so he can't represent his beloved Samoa"- Rugby league media everywhere

Wayne Bennett's big call on Anthony Milford

Bennett rules out Milf

 

[BroncsFan]

Everyone knows that the media will blame Bennett for this but realistically Milf needs to man up and take himself out instead of "oh I'd love to play for Samoa "

To me the facts are:
- if he gets selected for Aus he's likely behind Maloney and potentially Munster for the 6... therefore bench utility or selected against minnows at best
- for Samoa he's the starter but unlikely to progress beyond quarters
- playing the world cup delays his surgery till probably December at which point he has 4-6 month rehab and therefore not back till April - June 2018.

He would basically be choosing to play a bit role in the world cup whilst severely hampering his origin chances... where he is more than a chance of taking JT's vacant spot for the long term.

He's also severely hampering the broncos season and potentially derailing it all together. We'd miss him for basically the first 8-12 rounds and have a halves pairing headed up by Nikorima with minimal back up.

He'd also kill off any preseason in a 2018 season where he'll be the primary playmaker with a brand new inexperienced halves partner beside him. Those 2 need as much time together as possible

There's also the fact that NRL careers are short yet he's willing to potentially cull an entire season to potentially play off the bench for Australia or get eliminated in the quarters. This isn't only his season either this would be an entire team's season and Sammy's last in a broncos jersey.

All of this yet he has left it to Bennett to publicly make the call when it's obvious that he should be booked in for surgery the day after our season ends.

 

[Foordy]

2 options:

1. Play for Aus/Samoa and miss games for the Broncos due to surgery
2. Have the surgery as soon as the seasons done and be back in time for 2018.

Pretty simple really tbh

this

While fans of other clubs are likely whinging about Bennett in this, they would be furious if their million dollar player missed the start of the season to play in the world cup.

the right call has been made, hopefully Milford agrees or at least understands the reasoning for the decision.

 

[ivanhungryjak]

Bennetts presser was actually pretty funny. He said it was just Milf trying to get out of surgery.