HUSHED
Talk of the Titans’ rise is silenced after latest loss to Sharks
PAUL Gallen turned in a captain’s hand in probably his last game at Suncorp Stadium to leave his field of nightmares on a winning note. An injury-hit Cronulla, who lost Andrew Fifita to a hamstring problem after six minutes, produced another disciplined match to consign Gold Coast to a seventh loss in the first nine rounds. Titans performance chief Mal Meninga this week publicly urged the battling team needed to “kick our season off again’’. But Cronulla sent the Titans back to another re-set with a disciplined 26-18 win to open the Magic Round at Suncorp Stadium. It is only the second time in the Titans’ history that a season of theirs has started so badly. Gallen wrapped up the win with a barging 80th minute try. In the absence of Fifita and also prop Matt Prior (shoulder) after 20 minutes, Gallen tried hard, making 207 run metres. “It was good to grind it out,’’ Gallen said. To celebrate only his fifth win in 26 matches in Brisbane over his 17year career, the ex Blues captain landed the final conversation.
BRONCOS boss Paul White has hit back at Anthony Milford’s detractors and insists Brisbane’s decision to hand him the club’s first $1 million contract at the expense of Ben Hunt will be vindicated.
On the eve of tonight’s crucial Broncos-Manly Magic Round clash at Suncorp Stadium, White rejected suggestions Brisbane made a recruitment blunder by handing Milford the richest deal in the club’s 31-year history.
The Broncos confronted one of their most vexing retention decisions two years ago when a $6 million poaching raid from St George Illawarra threatened to split their Milford-Hunt scrumbase alliance.
Brisbane refused to get into a bidding war and allowed Hunt to join the Red V, instead backing Milford to become the first five-eighth to steer the Broncos to a premiership since Darren Lockyer in 2006.
Since being handed a fouryear, $4 million deal in 2017, Milford has been pilloried for his inconsistency, but White is adamant the maligned pivot will prove a successful longterm investment. “It was the right call to sign Anthony Milford,” White said.
“If we won that grand final in 2015, Anthony would have got the Clive Churchill medal, he was the best player on the park that night.
“No one was criticising us for signing Anthony Milford at the time we gave him his new contract.
“Anthony has copped some criticism but this period in ‘Milf’s’ career will help him.
“He is now through the initial period of his career and I see how hard he is working at training every day.
“Anthony has total support from the Broncos.”
A day after Milford takes on Manly, Dragon Hunt will run on to Suncorp Stadium to face new Warrior Kodi Nikorima.