Milford has to deliver: Kevvie
QUEENSLAND coach Kevin Walters has challenged Anthony Milford to prove he can be the long-term successor to Johnathan Thurston, telling the Maroons debutant: “Now it’s up to you.”
With the injured Thurston rated virtually no hope of playing Origin I, Milford is on the cusp of his Queensland debut before 52,000 fans in the series opener on Wednesday week at Suncorp Stadium.
The Bronco was yesterday named in the No.6 jumper, with Thurston relegated to 18th man in a clear sign the champion pivot is losing the battle to play his 37th consecutive Origin game.
Milford’s call-up shapes as Queensland’s most enthralling playmaking baptism in 30 years, after a tiny 68kg rookie from Ipswich named Allan Langer was thrown into the Lang Park cauldron in 1987.
Walters and Langer forged the greatest scrumbase alliance in Broncos history and the Maroons coach urged Milford to produce the type of Origin debut that made “Alfie” a Queensland icon.
“It’s up to Anthony to deliver now,” Walters said.
“We’ll provide the support to get him ready for the game. But now it’s up to Anthony ... he has all the talent in the world and he gets the chance to show it on the big stage.
“Milf is similar to Alf. They are both little blokes, although Milf has about 20kg on Alf.
“His personality is similar to Alf’s as well.
“When the footy is on, he likes to play and when it’s not on, he likes to relax and not take things too seriously.
“I just want him to have a good week and get ready for the game of his life.”
Upon receiving the phone call from Walters, an elated Milford began ringing Broncos teammates to ask what he needed to bring to Camp Maroon on the Gold Coast this week.
“He was very excited,” Walters said.
“The great part of our system in the QRL is that Anthony has played under-20s for us, he’s been in our Emerging Origin system and now he gets his opportunity to do his stuff on the big stage.”
Thurston entered Camp Maroon last night but he is expected to succumb to his shoulder injury.
That will clear the path for Milford, rated Queensland’s most prodigious talent since Thurston, to take an embryonic step in what Walters hopes will be a march to Origin greatness.
There is a view Milford, at 176cm and 90kg, could be targeted by the NSW forwards but Walters scoffed at suggestions the Maroons tyro would be defensively exposed.
“I wouldn’t put him in that position if we felt he was vulnerable,” he said.
“I am excited about the week that lies ahead for Anthony.”