Langer reckons Milford’s size not massive problem
MAROONS great Allan Langer has rubbished claims Anthony Milford is too small for State of Origin and declared the Blues should be fearing Queensland’s new “x- factor”.
Milford is in line to make his Origin debut in next Wednesday’s series opener at Suncorp Stadium as 36- game Maroons veteran Johnathan Thurston battles a shoulder injury.
At 176cm, Milford will be the smallest player on the field at five- eighth and is sure to attract attention from NSW’s wide- running forwards.
But few know what it’s like to be a small man in a big boys’ game better than the 165cm Langer, who made his first Origin start in 1987 as a 20- yearold half weighing just 68kg.
The powerful Milford weighs at least 90kg and Langer said the Broncos five- eighth would have no issues in league’s toughest arena.
“The cream rises to the top,” Langer said. “He holds his own. He’s still over 90kg.
“There is a bit of a difference between me and him. I was 68kg in my first Origin and it was a tough night. I was definitely ( targeted). He’s got to expect plenty of traffic. It will bring the best out of him playing against a top team. He’s the x- factor.
“He’s very quick off the mark. Hopefully he can be the matchwinner for us.”
Milford may only be 22, but he is battle- hardened having already played 106 NRL games in his five- season career.
He has at times been a defensive liability for the Bron- cos, more so with poor positioning rather than a weak tackling technique.
Thurston always receives plenty of traffic at NRL and Origin level and Broncos coach Wayne Bennett backed Milford to handle the load.
“It’s a tough game Origin and they will try and target him in defence,” Bennett said.
“The guys around Milf will help him.”