Million $ Milford.

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HE is Brisbane’s man-of-the-moment and now Anthony Milford is on track to trump Johnathan Thurston and become the NRL’s first $1.5 million man.

The Courier-Mail can reveal the NRL’s proposed beefed-up salary cap of $10.4 million and Collective Bargaining Agreement will help Milford become the sport’s highest-paid player.

Cowboys superstar Thurston catapulted NRL stars into a new salary stratosphere three years ago when he became the first marquee player to ink a $1 million a season deal.

But as he prepares for Friday night’s derby against the Titans at Cbus Super Stadium, Broncos matchwinner Milford is being positioned to set a new financial benchmark.

At 21, Milford is at the perfect age to capitalise on the TV billions being injected into the NRL. With the salary-cap to rise from $6.7m to $10.4m by 2018 _ an increase of 55 per cent _ Milford is at the vanguard of young guns who will parlay his raw talent into an unprecedented payday.

Off-contract next season, Milford will become a free agent at the commencement of the code’s new broadcast deal from 2018.

It will also coincide with the creation of a fresh CBA, putting the next generation of NRL stars in a prime position to broker the most lucrative contracts in the code’s history.

Milford currently earns around $450,000-a-season but his manager Sam Ayoub said his confidence, and potential earnings, had skyrocketed under the tutelage of Broncos coach Wayne Bennett.

“I can’t see anyone surpassing what Anthony’s value will be going into the 2018 season. I just can’t ... no matter what names you toss up,” Ayoub said.

“His ability will dictate his worth.

“Anthony is in the right environment at the right club. I won’t comment publicly on precise dollars, I’ll discuss that with his club, but realistically he will be earning marquee dollars.

“Wayne Bennett is a huge factor in Anthony’s form. He has given him a licence to thrill.

“Wayne is allowing Anthony to play the way he wants to play, but he puts enough discipline and structure around his flair and ability.

“Few coaches have the ability to do that and that’s why Anthony is thriving at the Broncos _ Wayne doesn’t punish him for making mistakes when Anthony tries to entertain.”

Milford is in sublime touch. Already this season he has four tries, four try assists and 24 tackle busts and will face the Titans club he terrorised last season on the Gold Coast.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...n/news-story/93bd28214f92478b530d85a0a3c9e9fb

Is he worth it.

I think so. Bit of a fluff story but worth a discussion I believe.

 

[Super Freak]

He will be worth it.

 

[Unbreakable]

Yes.

 

[tommy]

Yes he is worth it. Could be a ploy to get Hunt to play better.

 

[gordjw]

He's very likely worth it, but I doubt it will happen with WB at the helm. He's a big enough drawcard to attract players for lower prices.

Who else is at the $1m mark already, apart from DCE and Thurston? Inglis, C Smith, Slater, Pearce?

 

[tommy]

He's very likely worth it, but I doubt it will happen with WB at the helm. He's a big enough drawcard to attract players for lower prices.

Who else is at the $1m mark already, apart from DCE and Thurston? Inglis, C Smith, Slater, Pearce?

Sammy Burgess

 

[GCBRONCO]

Milford may not have yet reached that level of say previous club legends of Lockyer or Langer in terms of career achievements, but I think he has done enough to justify such faith. I'm rarely one to push for signing any player to a big deal, Milford however is an exception to that IMO, he is truly a one in a kind player that you build a side around, if the changes to the salary cap allow it to happen then I'm all for it.

 

[I bleed Maroon]

Give him whatever he wants. He has shown absolutely zero sign of slowing down.

 

[mrslong]

Shut up and take our money!

 

[Morkel]

Sammy Burgess

Don't start me.

 

[broncos4life]

 

[broncsgoat]

Give him a DCE deal

 

[broncos4life]

 

[Porthoz]

Ask Ricky how much he would pay for him.

 

[I bleed Maroon]

Look, approach it from this perspective: one of the biggest jabs that Bronco haters were throwing at us after we won was that Milf is carrying this team at the moment, notwithstanding Milford doesn't come close to slotting that field goal were it not for Moose running the better part of 20 metres to get him into position OR Roberts running like Usain Bolt to support him and score a try but anyway, facts don't apply on the internet, clearly.

At the heart of the argument, they probably aren't wrong. Milford is definitely contributing significantly more individually than the rest of the team at the moment, especially with Hunt struggling. So being that as it is, how can any of us let alone Bennett sit down in front of Milf and his manager and say "we don't think you're worth that much, take this or leave it"? Hasn't Milf earned a little more respect than that? He is certainly playing a fucktonne better than DCE.

 

[Bucking Beads]

He's going to make a lot of money via 3rd party payments in Brisbane. He's going to be the face of rugby league for 10+ years.

 

[Super Freak]

I stand by a comment I made when I made my Anthony Milford montage.

He could very well become the greatest ever Bronco.

The kid is only 21 and look at what he has done already. Imagine what he will do when he reaches his potential?

 

[Nashy]

One good season, and 4 good games. I think we should just play it cool for now. It's quite clear he's in no rush to bugger off.