HAMSTRUNG MILFORD OUT FOR SEASON

BRONCOS interim coach Peter Gentle has denied claims that the club rushed injured playmaker Anthony Milford back from injury in the hunt for success at the back end of the season.

A low pass during an innocuous training drill on Monday sealed the fate for Milford’s 2020 season who has been sidelined for the rest of the year with a hamstring injury.

Club doctors confirmed on Wednesday the 26-year-old will be put on ice for the final three weeks of the year.

The Brisbane playmaker has struggled with his hamstring for much of the year, missing Rounds 13 and 14 before straining it even further in his comeback game against the Dragons in Round 15.

Motivated to finish the season, Milford trained with the main squad on Monday to test the hamstring before aggravating the strain and ultimately ruling him out for the rest of the year.

Gentle dismissed claims the club pitchforked Milford back into the side too early after suffering the injury last month.

“We wouldn’t bring anyone back too early,” Gentle said.

“We have very good medical staff here. I don’t think Anthony would go against their wishes or advice.

“He was pretty keen to get out there and see how it (his hamstring) was going and he’s tweaked it again.

“We had a session planned for him where he would be integrated back into it but he didn’t get through the first hurdle. He copped a low ball, bent down to pick it up and decided then and walked off.”

His absence will see youngster Sean O’Sullivan step up and look to finish the year wearing the famed Broncos No. 6 jersey.