Milford steps up to seal a dour win
ANTHONY Milford has scored a brilliant solo try to give Brisbane an 8-2 win over the Warriors in a NRL armwrestle in Auckland.
The lowest-scoring game of the season was decided yesterday when Broncos fiveeighth Milford stepped inside a tired Ligi Sao, breaking the shackles of a defencedominated contest at the three-quarter mark.
Anthony Seibold’s men resolutely held out to secure a third-straight win at a crucial time, with State of Origin commitments set to chew into their playing ranks.
All of Brisbane’s Origin contenders did their selection hopes no harm, with forwards Matt Lodge, Payne Haas, Matt Gillett and Joe Ofahengaue among their best.
All ran more than 100m, with Blues hopeful Haas the best of them again, the teenage prop charging for 204m and making 35 tackles.
Milford’s slim Maroons hopes were boosted by his try, although he was relatively muted for much of the game, with the Warriors having shaded possession on the back of a favourable penalty count.
Kodi Nikorima was lively in his first home game for the Warriors but was well contained by his former club.
There was a flashpoint when five-eighth Nikorima was hit in a coathanger tackle from Kotoni Staggs which was placed on report.
Warriors utility Jazz Tevaga limped out of the game late in the first half with what appeared to be a serious ankle injury.