Bennett rubbishes Milford rumours

A FURIOUS Wayne Bennett is believed to have confronted Benji Marshall over allegations he backstabbed Broncos teammate Anthony Milford by labelling him a lazy trainer.

Brisbane’s captain’s run ended in drama yesterday when Bennett revealed at his official press conference that he spoke to an unnamed Broncos player to ask him whether he had privately criticised Milford’s work ethic to a journalist.

The coach’s stance came following Wednesday night’s Fox Sports episode of NRL 360, on which journalist Paul Kent spoke of concerns about Milford’s attitude to training.

Bennett later lashed out over the issue, revealing he confronted a Broncos player, believed to be Marshall, who denied criticising the Broncos five-eighth.

“I confronted a player this morning who allegedly made a comment (about Milford), and he never made that comment, a journalist made it up,” Bennett said.

“To be quite candid with you, I’m kind of over a lot of things and a lot of issues that are happening right now in our game.

“On the Anthony Milford issue this morning, I needed to talk to that player. I had to make sure that comment hadn’t been made or why it was made.

“But the player assured me, and I believe that player, that he never spoke to the journalist and he never gave him that information.”

Bennett rubbished suggestions Milford is a poor trainer, saying he had a “good work ethic”.

“We don’t have a problem with Anthony Milford in any form, shape or manner,” he said.

“We’ve lost the change room, I’ve lost my aura ... it’s just all rubbish you guys are making up and it’s getting ridiculous. It’s offensive actually in the end ...

I’m quick to jump on this because I’m over where we are going with all this stuff.”