Blake Austin is a better 5/8 than Anthony Milford & Mitchell Moses

[Rhino_NQ]

So much starch

 

[Bobby DIGital]

Even the sun shines on a dog's ass for a half of football.

 

[I Bleed Maroon]

How good can Anthony Milford be? Darren Lockyer good? Johnathan Thurston good? Maybe all that and then some, says Sam Thaiday, who believes Brisbane's diminutive wunderkind could blossom into one of rugby league's true giants.
Pause


South’s devastating win over the Roosters, the ongoing problem of low tackles and Penrith celebrate their 50th year in the NRL.


In a breathless endorsement leading into Brisbane's first home game of the year against the Warriors, the Broncos veteran said Milford had the natural ability and required work ethic to take his game to a point where it could not only rival but surpass some of the game's elite halves.


Milford is only in his second season at the club but has made Lockyer's old No.6 jersey his own, after making a similar progression from fullback to key playmaker.


His combination with halfback Ben Hunt was enough to help them surge all the way to the grand final, with many considering Milford the best player on the park in the last-gasp loss at the hands of North Queensland.


His talent and natural ability is obvious for anyone who has watched him effortlessly dart around defenders but Thaiday has a more intimate view that has convinced him that the spoken 21-year-old can achieve far more than any observers had dared to dream.
The Maroons back-rower has played alongside some of the all-time greats and doesn't feel it's a stretch to suggest Milford could one day rank among their numbers. The fact he has the confidence to say it publicly – and know it won't go to Milford's head – only adds weight to his admiration.

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/rug...ness-at-brisbane-broncos-20160310-gnfif7.html

Well what do ya know.

 

[ANTiLAG]

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/rug...ness-at-brisbane-broncos-20160310-gnfif7.html

Well what do ya know.

I'd still take Morgan over Milford.

I reckon Morgan this year could overtake JT for match impact for the Cows. Big call I know and it certainly will not be voiced by the commentators establishing JT for immortal status and a long career in commentary.

But for mine, JT has reached his peak a year or two ago. I don't think he has his amazing season last year without Morgan's sublime support - which is down played endlessly by the media. Hardly hear a wink about Morgan's last play miracle, but we hear about JT's field goal ad nauseam from in front. One thing not to piss on statues, and I was JT's greatest fan for many a year, and as quality as he is, he is not the total single handed threat he used to be despite it being rammed down our throats by the media at all avenues that he is the greatest player in the game.

In Origin now he relies on Cronk and at club level he relies on Morgan. This is the man who at his peak was great enough that he arguably carried Lockyer at Origin, or at the very least made his presence superfluous to victory. He was once as good as the media now say he is. He is still an outstanding player, but he is past his peak. He tried and tried to break the Broncos last year in the grand final in the last 20 mins or so, and even overplayed his hand as far as I am concerned. It took Morgan to do it when finally given a crack in the dying seconds.

Curious beast; the manner in which the media goes about making heroes out of certain players.

 

[Glen]

I'm sure the Brisbane Times is an impartial paper when it comes to Broncos-related stories

 

[Walt Flanigan]

While I also think Milford was the best player in the GF, I don't think the opinion of a Brisbane Times writer counts for much when talking about a Broncos player.

 

[ACTPanthers]

Brisbane Times.....? Nah, no bias there.... :roll:

 

[Bobby DIGital]

Wow you really know how to put forth a strong argument IBM.

 

[Bronco18]

I'd still take Morgan over Milford.

I reckon Morgan this year could overtake JT for match impact for the Cows. Big call I know and it certainly will not be voiced by the commentators establishing JT for immortal status and a long career in commentary.

But for mine, JT has reached his peak a year or two ago. I don't think he has his amazing season last year without Morgan's sublime support - which is down played endlessly by the media. Hardly hear a wink about Morgan's last play miracle, but we hear about JT's field goal ad nauseam from in front. One thing not to piss on statutes, and I was JT's greatest fan for many a year, and as quality as he is, he is not the total single handed threat he used to be despite it being rammed down our throats by the media at all avenues that he is the greatest player in the game.

In Origin now he relies on Cronk and at club level he relies on Morgan. This is the man who at his peak was great enough that he arguably carried Lockyer at Origin, or at the very least made his presence superfluous to victory. He was once as good as the media now say he is. He is still an outstanding player, but he is past his peak. He tried and tried to break the Broncos last year in the grand final in the last 20 mins or so, and even overplayed his hand as far as I am concerned. It took Morgan to do it when finally given a crack in the dying seconds.

Curious beast; the manner in which the media goes about making heroes out of certain players.

In fairness to Thurston though, he was heavily involved in everything the Cowboys did throughout the game while Morgan did SFA until the last minute. It was a hell of a play yes, but Morgan really didn't stamp his presence on the game otherwise.

Morgan still has a mile to go by ways of Thurston's influence on the team for mine - it's become trendy to knock Thurston's status as the best competitor on LU but it's bloody true and no one approaches him. Even in the Sharks game last weekend, Thurston covered up kick after kick into the in-goal, was often the first player back for the Cowboys each set and directed their attack against a very committed Sharks defence. I think we are prone to put our blinkers up for the best players because they end up doing what we expect of them, I know plenty of Broncos supporters who ended up doing it with Lockyer while the team would fall to pieces whenever he went out injured.

 

[ANTiLAG]

In fairness to Thurston though, he was heavily involved in everything the Cowboys did throughout the game while Morgan did SFA until the last minute. It was a hell of a play yes, but Morgan really didn't stamp his presence on the game otherwise.

As I said, Thurston completely overplayed his hand. Morgan was starved of good decision making ball to work with.

Morgan still has a mile to go by ways of Thurston's influence on the team for mine - it's become trendy to knock Thurston's status as the best competitor on LU but it's bloody true and no one approaches him. Even in the Sharks game last weekend, Thurston covered up kick after kick into the in-goal, was often the first player back for the Cowboys each set and directed their attack against a very committed Sharks defence. I think we are prone to put our blinkers up for the best players because they end up doing what we expect of them, I know plenty of Broncos supporters who ended up doing it with Lockyer while the team would fall to pieces whenever he went out injured.

For years I went against the grain and carried JT's flag on Leagueunlimited in the Lockyer and Langer debates as well saying Thurston should be the Queensland candidate in the Joey debates. The most reasonable Broncos fans like Big Pete at that time said it was premature, to some just being totally blinded by their previous greats in Langer and Lockyer - the Knights fans said Joey won origin in 2005 against a rookie first year origin player Thurston as though that was decisive in the debate.

JT was an outstandingly great player deserving of his career status as an all time great. But age has caught up with him, he has peaked. He is still a very good player, but he is not as outstanding as he was. Without Cronk in Origin, or Morgan in club, he is not able to carry teams 'single handedly' like he used to be able to in my view.

I recognize that it is a big call to say that Morgan's influence is or will this season become more important that JT's at the Cows, and many fans and observers will say that it is totally premature. But that torch will be passed on sooner or later, and I think it will be observable to be happening this season, and not the end of next season. That is not the same thing to say Morgan will ever hit a career greatness peak anywhere near as high as Thurston's. Because that is not at all what I'm claiming at this stage.

 

[typicalfan]

Morgan has a long way to go to eclipse Thurston. A long long way. Morgan is talented but seriously JT won the Cowboys many games last year with clutch plays.

Carrying teams single handedly? No player can do this. Johns used to make the 6 jersey fairly redundant but even he would acknowledge what Buderus helped him with.

 

[ANTiLAG]

Morgan has a long way to go to eclipse Thurston. A long long way. Morgan is talented but seriously JT won the Cowboys many games last year with clutch plays.

Carrying teams single handedly? No player can do this. Johns used to make the 6 jersey fairly redundant but even he would acknowledge what Buderus helped him with.

Hence the inverted commas. This was to make clear that in no way shape or form was I suggesting that the other 12 players on the field were mere mannequins. But unfortunately you missed this.

 

[Bobby DIGital]

Milford would want to tighten up on those handling errors before anyone with more intellect than "Toilet-dwellin" Sam Thaiday considers him an all time great.

 

[ANTiLAG]

Milford would want to tighten up on those handling errors, before anyone with more intellect than "Toilet-dwellin" Sam Thaiday considers him an all time great.

How many missed tackles for Milford as against the rest? I think Moses will lose this hands down.

I see Morgan ran round Milford during the season once or twice, before doing it again in the grand final.

 

[Danoz Direct]

Morgan is a great player, but he is nowhere near Thurston level. At this point he is a running five-eight, with a decent passing game, but not the level of creativity to win games without Thurston.

I also think that last Milford improved to a point where he is a better five-eight than Morgan and has still so much improvement left in him. I even see Milford as the best five-eight in the game and I think we will see him in the team of the year, at the close of this season.

 

[Danoz Direct]

Milford would want to tighten up on those handling errors before anyone with more intellect than "Toilet-dwellin" Sam Thaiday considers him an all time great.

To be fair the majority of these errors came in the first half of the season when he was just getting used to five-eight, but it would be unacceptable for him to repeat this, this year.

 

[Bobby DIGital]

How many missed tackles for Milford as against the rest? I think Moses will lose this hands down.

I see Morgan ran round Milford during the season once or twice, before doing it again in the grand final.

Milford - 56 missed tackles
Austin - 53 missed tackles
Moses - 95 missed tackles (2nd highest in the NRL behind only James Maloney who I've always considered a fraud tbh)

 

[Cartman]

Pfft Austin couldn't even finish the game due to a graze on his knee. Ricky praised Sezer for a toughness after the game, no doubt a sly dig at Austin for leaving his team in a time of need.

Moses > halfagamestin

That gave quite the hearty chuckle, I raise my Friday afternoon beer to you good sir. :lol:

 

[Bobby DIGital]

Morgan - 34 missed tackles (FTR)

 

[ANTiLAG]

Morgan is a great player, but he is nowhere near Thurston level. At this point he is a running five-eight, with a decent passing game, but not the level of creativity to win games without Thurston.

This is a safe argument for you to run. I do wonder what is the Thurston level that you refer too? Thurston's current level? Or his peak a few years ago? Or do you think Thurston is still at his peak?

But I just watched all the Morgan highlight reel video's on youtube - and there are a fair few games in there that I do not think the Cowboys win last year (and previous) without the Morgan magic either scoring tries himself or setting up others.

I think it is safest to say that they both rely on each other at this stage, and the Cows will feel the loss of either half.

The Knights and the Titans should get their cheque books out and enquire to when Morgan can be off contract at his earliest.