Qld move to ease pressure off Milford

Queensland have urged Anthony Milford to take a back seat in the star-studded Maroons team in a bid to ease pressure on the rookie five-eighth ahead of Wednesday’s Stator of Origin opener.

Milford, 22, faces the daunting task of stepping up for injured playmaker Johnathan Thurston (shoulder) when he makes his Origin debut at Suncorp Stadium.

However, Queensland have told Brisbane star Milford he won’t be expected to do the same job as the injured Thurston.

“He’s a very important player for Brisbane but he can take a back seat here,” Maroons centre Will Chambers said.

“He’s got experience around him. He just needs to find his role in the team.He doesn’t need to do anything special, there are already special players in this team.”

Not that Chambers didn’t believe Milford was capable of special plays.

“He’s pretty freakish. He can score points from anywhere, make something from nothing,” Chambers said.

“He can step off both feet and he’s fast. It’s very nerve-wracking as a defender.

“Johnno (Thurston) is a massive loss, there is no hiding from that fact, but Anthony has done some special things for the Broncos and he has waited for his time.”

Milford will receive a crash course on the Origin game-plan over four training sessions with halves partner Cooper Cronk.

Veteran halfback Cronk reckoned his Origin tip for Milford was pretty simple.

“The advice is ‘see ball, get ball’ and take it from there,” Cronk said.

“But don’t stress about the running of the game or management of the team because what Milford brings to a football team is that one-on-one ability to explode and beat somebody.”

Thurston will remain at Queensland’s Origin camp on the Gold Coast to mentor Milford.

“He is a super talent and I love watching him play,” Thurston said.

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