B
broncomax
NYC Player
- Oct 5, 2013
- 129
- 147
Hi just noticed this story on the canberra times website. All I can say is please keep doing this Ricky....
Anthony Milford has been told by the Raiders to miss Samoa's clash with Fiji next month.
Share
Adjust font size
Read Later
By*JON TUXWORTH
The Canberra Raiders have told Anthony Milford he won't be playing for Samoa on May 3, coach Ricky Stuart advising him to bypass the match to nurse a niggling medial ligament knee injury and boost his Origin chances.*
Stuart this week advised the star fullback to use the NRL's representative break to return to full fitness.*
The Raiders weren't afraid to put their foot down, despite trying to convince Milford to remain in Canberra beyond this season and to back-flip on a two-year deal with the Brisbane Broncos.*
Advertisement
"" style="margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; font-size: 0px; display: block; border: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;">Storm fullback Billy Slater has some competition on his hands for the Maroons No. 1 jersey.
Milford was outstanding in the World Cup for Samoa, which*will play Fiji for the final Four Nations berth at Penrith.
But given the 19-year-old's importance to Canberra, he will be watching from the stands.
Milford has played with heavy strapping on his left knee for the past two games, and was well below his dynamic best in last week's loss to Newcastle.*
One of Stuart's assistant coaches at the Raiders, Matt Parish, is also Samoa's head coach.*
*''He definitely won't be playing for Samoa, I've spoken to him and he's fine about it,'' Stuart said.*
''We've had a good discussion about it and it's the correct decision for him moving forward.*
''He wants to focus on Queensland and that's what he should be doing, too,'' he said.*
''I'm very confident he will play Origin - when is the question on everyone's lips.*
''He'll get his opportunity at some stage,'' Stuart said.
Under new eligibility rules the 19-year-old could play for Samoa, then pledge his allegiance to Queensland and Australia.
Maroons coach Mal Meninga and Kangaroos coach Tim Sheens have both stated publicly he is on their radar as a possible Origin and Four Nations bolter.*
The fullback battle between Milford and Billy Slater will be a highlight of Canberra's home clash with Melbourne on Easter Sunday.*
Canberra (2-4) must win to avoid losing touch with the top eight after back-to-back losses against Penrith and Newcastle.*
It is also looking to snap a record six-game losing streak, which began with a club record 68-4 belting by the Storm in round 21 last year.*
While Slater is the long-term Australia and Queensland custodian, Milford was*in superior form to his rival earlier this season.*
Slater is playing more of a distributor role for Melbourne this season, and as a result outpoints Milford in line break assists.*
But Milford is neck and neck with Slater on try assists, and his more devastating running game means he leads the tries scored, tackle break and line break categories comfortably.*
Stuart said earlier this week that teams were physically targeting Milford, but he was tough enough to handle it.
''I think Billy Slater's the type of player Anthony should model his game off,'' Stuart said earlier this week. ''They're very similar in ability. Billy Slater is - and has been - the most wonderful player.
''Billy would even agree ... that he probably didn't handle it [the physicality] as well as Anthony is today when he first started. But he's learnt that through his maturity and he's a very tough fullback, Billy Slater.''
Stuart also backed Raiders back rower Josh Papalii to retain his Australia spot for next month's Test against New Zealand in Sydney, despite a quiet return from injury last week.*
Papalii failed to have his usual impact against the Knights after three weeks out with ankle syndesmosis, and requires a strong game against Melbourne to be guaranteed his place.*
''He's a young representative player now and he hasn't let a rep jumper down since he's been involved with Queensland and Australia,'' Stuart said.*
''If he gets picked, and I'm expecting him to, I know he won't let anybody down.''
MILFORD VERSUS SLATER
How they compare statistically this season*
MILFORD*
Tries: 2
Anthony Milford has been told by the Raiders to miss Samoa's clash with Fiji next month.
Share
Adjust font size
Read Later
By*JON TUXWORTH
The Canberra Raiders have told Anthony Milford he won't be playing for Samoa on May 3, coach Ricky Stuart advising him to bypass the match to nurse a niggling medial ligament knee injury and boost his Origin chances.*
Stuart this week advised the star fullback to use the NRL's representative break to return to full fitness.*
The Raiders weren't afraid to put their foot down, despite trying to convince Milford to remain in Canberra beyond this season and to back-flip on a two-year deal with the Brisbane Broncos.*
Advertisement
"" style="margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; font-size: 0px; display: block; border: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;">Storm fullback Billy Slater has some competition on his hands for the Maroons No. 1 jersey.
Milford was outstanding in the World Cup for Samoa, which*will play Fiji for the final Four Nations berth at Penrith.
But given the 19-year-old's importance to Canberra, he will be watching from the stands.
Milford has played with heavy strapping on his left knee for the past two games, and was well below his dynamic best in last week's loss to Newcastle.*
One of Stuart's assistant coaches at the Raiders, Matt Parish, is also Samoa's head coach.*
*''He definitely won't be playing for Samoa, I've spoken to him and he's fine about it,'' Stuart said.*
''We've had a good discussion about it and it's the correct decision for him moving forward.*
''He wants to focus on Queensland and that's what he should be doing, too,'' he said.*
''I'm very confident he will play Origin - when is the question on everyone's lips.*
''He'll get his opportunity at some stage,'' Stuart said.
Under new eligibility rules the 19-year-old could play for Samoa, then pledge his allegiance to Queensland and Australia.
Maroons coach Mal Meninga and Kangaroos coach Tim Sheens have both stated publicly he is on their radar as a possible Origin and Four Nations bolter.*
The fullback battle between Milford and Billy Slater will be a highlight of Canberra's home clash with Melbourne on Easter Sunday.*
Canberra (2-4) must win to avoid losing touch with the top eight after back-to-back losses against Penrith and Newcastle.*
It is also looking to snap a record six-game losing streak, which began with a club record 68-4 belting by the Storm in round 21 last year.*
While Slater is the long-term Australia and Queensland custodian, Milford was*in superior form to his rival earlier this season.*
Slater is playing more of a distributor role for Melbourne this season, and as a result outpoints Milford in line break assists.*
But Milford is neck and neck with Slater on try assists, and his more devastating running game means he leads the tries scored, tackle break and line break categories comfortably.*
Stuart said earlier this week that teams were physically targeting Milford, but he was tough enough to handle it.
''I think Billy Slater's the type of player Anthony should model his game off,'' Stuart said earlier this week. ''They're very similar in ability. Billy Slater is - and has been - the most wonderful player.
''Billy would even agree ... that he probably didn't handle it [the physicality] as well as Anthony is today when he first started. But he's learnt that through his maturity and he's a very tough fullback, Billy Slater.''
Stuart also backed Raiders back rower Josh Papalii to retain his Australia spot for next month's Test against New Zealand in Sydney, despite a quiet return from injury last week.*
Papalii failed to have his usual impact against the Knights after three weeks out with ankle syndesmosis, and requires a strong game against Melbourne to be guaranteed his place.*
''He's a young representative player now and he hasn't let a rep jumper down since he's been involved with Queensland and Australia,'' Stuart said.*
''If he gets picked, and I'm expecting him to, I know he won't let anybody down.''
MILFORD VERSUS SLATER
How they compare statistically this season*
MILFORD*
Tries: 2
