Milford on report
Anthony Milford is on report for this tackle against the Cowboys in last weekend's Holden Cup under-20s match in Townsville.
- Autoplay OnOff
- Video feedback
- Video settings
Terry Campese’s promotion to the starting line-up was supposed to stabilise the Canberra Raiders. Instead, injury and suspension threaten to throw preparations for Saturday’s trip to Melbourne into disarray.
Campese will wear the No.6 jersey for the first time in over a year, but who will partner him in the halves remains unclear after halfback Sam Williams was dropped on Tuesday.
Josh McCrone was named at halfback, but needs to overcome a groin problem picked up in last week’s 30-12 loss to North Queensland to play.
Terry Campese will start for Canberra for the first time in 2013 this weekend. Photo: Getty Images
Young gun Anthony Milford was named on the bench, and is next in line to partner Campese should McCrone be ruled out.
However, the 18-year-old must first beat a grade three dangerous contact charge from last week’s under-20 win over the Cowboys.
The drama is the last thing the Raiders need before its clash with the undefeated Storm, arguably the toughest challenge in the NRL.
Judiciary trouble ... Anthony Milford. Photo: Melissa Adams
Already minus injured stars David Shillington (ribs), Josh Papalii (knees) and Jarrod Croker (knee), back-rower Joel Thompson has been ruled out with a fractured toe and replaced by Joe Picker.
Shillington remains a chance to be a late inclusion, while Shaun Berrigan and Jarrad Kennedy were named on an extended six-man bench.
Canberra coach David Furner said defensive issues were the major reason behind Williams’ demotion to NSW Cup side Mounties.
‘‘I’ve spoken to Sammy and the areas he needs to work on, as a team we definitely didn’t perform the way we would have liked [against the Cowboys],’’ Furner said.
‘‘The biggest thing is his defence, he’s disappointed as well because it’s something he’s had to work hard on.’’
The Raiders will seek to have Milford’s charge downgraded at the judiciary on Wednesday night.
They are bewildered the tackle attracted such a hefty grading, given the uniqueness of the incident.
Milford faces a three-week ban with an early guilty plea, or four weeks if he unsuccessfully contests the charge.
Canberra is desperate for the livewire teenager to play, as they believe he can provide the x-factor needed to break down the Storm.
But even with a downgrading, Milford is long odds to play the second game of his NRL career after debuting against the Roosters in round five.
Fairfax Media has obtained Fox Sports footage of the tackle. The match review committee allege he ‘‘made dangerous contact with his arm and shoulder to the leg of a Cowboys player’’.
The diminuitive Milford weighs just 85 kilograms, while the player he tackled, prop Halvor Harris, is 104kg.
‘‘Just the grading ... it’s a strange one because no one’s ever seen a tackle like that,’’ Furner said.
‘‘Hopefully common sense prevails, if anything it was clumsy and he probably put himself into a position which wasn’t great. Certainly Tony is a player that can add that little bit of X-factor we need.’’
SATURDAY: NRL round eight: Melbourne Storm v Canberra Raiders at AAMI Park, 5.30pm. TV time: Live on Fox Sports 1.
No comments:
Post a Comment