Bennett's bold claim about ex-$1 million star

1 year ago 73

Wayne Bennett confirmed Anthony Milford volition commencement astatine five-eighth for the Dolphins for an extended period, aft halfback Sean O'Sullivan suffered a torn pectoral musculus successful the 18-12 nonaccomplishment to Brisbane.

Milford, a 207-game veteran, hadn't played NRL since August past twelvemonth but was rushed into the broadside astatine No.6 against the Broncos connected Friday, aft 19-year-old Isaiya Katoa was inactive suffering the effects of an elbow injury.

The erstwhile Bronco turned successful a coagulated performance, mounting up a effort for Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow with a neat grubber, and kept his enactment successful defence.

NRL Highlights: Dolphins v Broncos - Round 4

The 28-year-old was a mainstay of Bennett's Broncos squad from 2015 to 2018 but started this play successful Queensland Cup aft Katoa outplayed him successful pre-season. Katoa was adjacent to playing the Broncos and is tipped to instrumentality the tract against the Dragons In Wollongong.

"There is simply a bully accidental for him now," Bennett said of Milford.

"He did capable contiguous to marque maine blessed capable to support him there.

"Isaiya volition astir apt travel into halfback. We made him into a five-eighth but helium is simply a halfback, Isaiya."

Dolphins enforcer bulldozes over

Bennett said O'Sullivan volition beryllium retired for a "little while" aft the playmaker came disconnected the tract successful the 61st minute. The squad was already without the suspended Jeremy Marshall-King, and past mislaid experienced inferior Kodi Nikorima with a heavy chopped to the caput successful the 26th minute, conscionable 2 minutes aft helium had travel on.

That near Mason Teague and Ray Stone to stock the dummy-half role, with neither of them regular No.9s.

"If we'd had a hooker we would person done a hellhole of a batch more," Bennett said.

"Halfback's gone. Hooker's gone ... and we are inactive successful determination astatine 14-12 ... incredible.

"You request those cardinal players successful cardinal positions. They weren't there. We were truthful brave to support ourselves successful the crippled and that's what was a miracle."

Walsh wonder ball sparks Broncos

The Dolphons could besides beryllium without winger Tesi Nui, who injured his genu early, had it strapped and battled connected for the entirety connected 1 leg.

"For a young feline to bash that and enactment his assemblage connected the enactment for the squad conscionable shows you what benignant of nine we privation to beryllium and what benignant of nine we are," Dolphins skipper Jesse Bromwich said.

"Wayne gave him a immense wrapper successful the sheds for the mode helium was capable to propulsion done erstwhile we didn't person immoderate backs that could play there. He did a truly bully occupation and toughed it out."

For a regular dose of the champion of the breaking quality and exclusive contented from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!