McHunt
International Rep
Contributor
- Aug 25, 2018
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Peter Badel & Chris Honnery report on Seibold's plan to unshackle Anthony Milford.
Millionaire play-boy.
Despite being the prize playmaker on a million bucks a year, received wisdom has accepted the NRL's richest club's most valuable player ever isn't up to thinking beyond his own box. Coach Anthony Seibold has resigned himself to only having a reactive player in the crucial play-calling position of five-eighth and instructed Milford to merely “run the ball.” This follows Seibold's disastrous attempt to hide bumbling captain, Darius Boyd at second receiver last season. The onus is now on Storm discard Brodie Croft to conduct the entire orchestra:
“I just want Anthony to run this season. Run the ball,” Seibold said. “’Milf’ is just a natural football player. When he plays unshackled, he is as good as anyone in the comp. What I want from ‘Milf’ this season is simple – I want to free him up. The reason I brought in Brodie (from the Storm) and have Tom Dearden as a back-up No.7 is so that they can organise the team and, that way, ‘Milf’ can play eyes-up footy. Having Brodie frees Anthony up. Milf is an elite talent, I can’t coach the gifts he has got, but now I want him to run and play direct and back himself.”
Legendary fullback Gary Belcher remains positive:
“I don’t think ‘Milly’ needs that responsibility (of being in the leadership group). I don’t think it matters, without talking about his salary, that he is not in the leadership group. We have a specific role for Milly to play. We want all of our players to lead with their actions on the field and out here at training. That is not an unusual decision to not have your number six in the leadership group.
“In some ways, Milf is an uncomfortable leader. I just want him to focus on himself. I think he has had a really good pre-season with some of that pressure taken off him and I expect him to shine this year, I really do.”
As does captain-in-waiting Alex Glenn:
“I honestly think five-eighth is his best position. Croft is sort of like our commander. In previous years, we’ve had Milford and Kodi (Nikorima), who are two very similar players, and trying to change their game to be a commander. That can easily throw you off. We’ve seen what Milly can do when he has a commanding halfback, for example Benny Hunt in 2015, and Milford was allowed to play his own game. He needs to get his hands on the ball as much as he can, without having to think too much … that’s when he’s at his best.”
What can a million buy you these days, anyway?
McHunt
Millionaire play-boy.
Despite being the prize playmaker on a million bucks a year, received wisdom has accepted the NRL's richest club's most valuable player ever isn't up to thinking beyond his own box. Coach Anthony Seibold has resigned himself to only having a reactive player in the crucial play-calling position of five-eighth and instructed Milford to merely “run the ball.” This follows Seibold's disastrous attempt to hide bumbling captain, Darius Boyd at second receiver last season. The onus is now on Storm discard Brodie Croft to conduct the entire orchestra:
“I just want Anthony to run this season. Run the ball,” Seibold said. “’Milf’ is just a natural football player. When he plays unshackled, he is as good as anyone in the comp. What I want from ‘Milf’ this season is simple – I want to free him up. The reason I brought in Brodie (from the Storm) and have Tom Dearden as a back-up No.7 is so that they can organise the team and, that way, ‘Milf’ can play eyes-up footy. Having Brodie frees Anthony up. Milf is an elite talent, I can’t coach the gifts he has got, but now I want him to run and play direct and back himself.”
Legendary fullback Gary Belcher remains positive:
“I don’t think ‘Milly’ needs that responsibility (of being in the leadership group). I don’t think it matters, without talking about his salary, that he is not in the leadership group. We have a specific role for Milly to play. We want all of our players to lead with their actions on the field and out here at training. That is not an unusual decision to not have your number six in the leadership group.
“In some ways, Milf is an uncomfortable leader. I just want him to focus on himself. I think he has had a really good pre-season with some of that pressure taken off him and I expect him to shine this year, I really do.”
As does captain-in-waiting Alex Glenn:
“I honestly think five-eighth is his best position. Croft is sort of like our commander. In previous years, we’ve had Milford and Kodi (Nikorima), who are two very similar players, and trying to change their game to be a commander. That can easily throw you off. We’ve seen what Milly can do when he has a commanding halfback, for example Benny Hunt in 2015, and Milford was allowed to play his own game. He needs to get his hands on the ball as much as he can, without having to think too much … that’s when he’s at his best.”
What can a million buy you these days, anyway?
McHunt
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