After failing to fire a shot at previous tournaments, Brisbane assistant Kurt Richards has warned Anthony Milford is primed to finally "pull the trigger" at this week's NRL Nines in Perth.
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Richards - who will take over the Broncos reins from Anthony Seibold at the Nines - said Milford would be the first to admit that he had never stamped his mark on a Nines tournament.
But he said there were ominous signs at pre-season training that Milford was ready to cut loose in WA after revelling in his halves combination with new recruit, ex-Melbourne Storm playmaker Brodie Croft.
"He's gone to a few Nines competitions now and he will honestly say himself he didn't fire a shot in those," Richards said of Milford.
"But I am pretty excited for what he will bring this year because of what the players around him will do to give him those opportunities.
"I think there is plenty to expect from Anthony. Someone like Brodie Croft will really suit him well."
Richards admitted he was excited by the prospect of Croft steering the Broncos around the park for the first time, freeing up Milford to finally unleash his rarely sighted running game in Perth.
"Anthony isn't one to game manage a team and get them around the park and focus on his sets on the last play," he said.
"He's got Crofty who can do that job.
"He (Milford) can sit back, keep his eyes on what the opposition are doing and pull the trigger when we need him."
Milford was switched to fullback by Seibold last year after hot and cold form in the No.6 jersey.
But Richards predicted fans would finally see Milford at his best at five-eighth, in what will be his sixth season at the Broncos, thanks to Croft's arrival.
"He (Milford) is certainly the fittest he has been since he has been at the club," he said.
"He will be judged by what he does out on the park but I am pretty excited to see that combination blossom between him and Crofty.
"And in my role working on his kicking game I have noticed a big change in that - he has put a lot of time in it.
"And we've got Crofty there as well now who is a natural kicker of the ball to complement him as well so I am pretty excited about him."
Richards also expected big things from former skipper Corey Parker who will come out of retirement for the Nines.
"Cozza trained with the team yesterday and he was quite good, he directed the young middles around the park and he was a real asset to us," he said.
Australian Associated Press
