The weighting game
Milford’s fitness stirs rumours as Bennett denies Marshall made claim
ANTHONY Milford enters tonight’s clash against Canberra under siege following allegations he was backstabbed by teammate Benji Marshall and labelled a lazy trainer.
In a dramatic build-up to the Broncos-Raiders showdown at Suncorp Stadium, coach Wayne Bennett revealed he confronted a Brisbane player to ask if he privately leaked information on Milford to the media.
Bennett did not publicly disclose his identity but the player is Marshall, who was thrown a lifeline by the veteran coach just four months ago.
Marshall assured Bennett he did not bag Milford. But the five-eighth’s fitness has been an issue, with Milford copping jibes from teammates after he reported for pre-season in November noticeably overweight.
Milford has since trimmed down and was a revelation in the season opener, scoring the match-winning try to sink premiers the Sharks.
Milford will sign an upgraded $2.7 million deal in the next fortnight and Bennett yesterday moved to quash speculation of a player rift.
“I confronted a player (yesand terday) morning who allegedly made a comment (about Milford),” Bennett said.
“He never made that comment – a journalist made it up.
“On the Anthony Milford issue, I needed to talk to that player (Marshall). I had to make sure that comment hadn’t been made or why it was.
“But the player assured me, I believe that player, that he never spoke to the journalist and he never gave him that information.”
Bennett’s riposte followed Wednesday night’s NRL 360 program on Fox Sports, on which award-winning News Corp journalist Paul Kent detailed concerns about Milford’s attitude to training.
“He’s a guy who enjoys his off-season, he generally comes back and his skinfolds give the medical staff a heart attack,” Kent said.
“Benji Marshall’s horrified by it. It’s not good enough.”
Marshall was a panellist on the Fox Sports program last year, fuelling speculation he leaked the information.
It is a saga the Broncos can do without as Milford prepares to face his former Raiders club tonight, hoping to snap Brisbane’s two-game losing streak.
Bennett rubbished suggestions Milford is a poor trainer.
“Anthony has a good work ethic,” Bennett said.
“We don’t have a problem with Anthony Milford in any form, shape or manner.
“Anthony doesn’t have a poor work ethic. You guys are here every day, you see him out here with everybody, he doesn’t take shortcuts ... he doesn’t miss anything.”