"I met him in Brisbane and I just told him the truth and why I had to make my decision and obviously you have seen Ricky do the same," Papalii told NRL.com of his about-face to stay in Canberra. "He understood my decision because he had to make it himself. We are all on the same page now and hopefully we take the Raiders further than this year.
"We got all the rubbish out then and I just told him why I made my decision and he told me why he made his so we're all on the same page.
[In other words, "I went up straight up to Ricky and asked him what he was saying about people who back out of contracts"]
Good luck getting any kind of loyalty and respect from your players, Ricky. You'll need it, moneyboy.
Click here for the full article:
http://www.nrl.com/papalii-how-i-made-peace-with-ricky/tabid/10874/newsid/75743/default.aspx
Anthony Milford to honour final year of Raiders contract after returning to Canberra
- The Daily Telegraph
- December 13, 2013
Anthony Milford will remain with Canberra Raiders in 2014
WHEN Virgin flight VA1210 touched down at Canberra airport at 11.40am yesterday, a massive weight was lifted off the shoulders of new Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart.
Emerging from the airport lounge 10 minutes later was none other than Anthony Milford.
His future at the Canberra Raiders had been the subject of speculation for the last two months.
Stuart and his assistant coach Matt Parish were at the airport to personally collect Milford off the flight from Brisbane - the final confirmation the Broncos had failed in their audacious bid to snare the boom youngster for 2014.
He was whisked off straight to training to begin preparations for his final season in the national capital.
"Anthony has stuck by his word and that's what we expected all along," Stuart said.
"It provides a tremendous buzz around the place for the players, our supporters and our members."
The young fullback did have a get-out clause in his contract to return home to Brisbane to be with his sick father.
Speculation increased he would take up the clause on compassionate grounds when the Broncos announced his signing from 2015 and onwards.
Anthony Milford of Samoa in action during the Rugby League World Cup. Source: Getty Images
But Stuart and the Raiders never gave up hope.
"Both Anthony and his manager Sam Ayoub have done the honourable thing," Stuart said.
"I watched a lot of his performances last year and he's a very special young player.
"We're all delighted to have him on board."
Milford's return to the Raiders is a blow to the Canterbury Bulldogs' chances of snaring disgruntled fullback Josh Hoffman from the Broncos.
Brisbane would almost certainly have released Hoffman if Milford had triggered the escape clause in Canberra.
It's now highly unlikely they will release him.
The Broncos signed Milford for 2015 three weeks ago and tried desperately to get him on board 12 months in advance.
``Anthony is an elite talent and is a great signing for us," said coach Anthony Griffin, when the deal was done.
The Broncos' recruitment methods have attracted plenty of criticism around the NRL.
They've not only signed Ben Barba while under contract to the Bulldogs but are also trying to persuade Test captain Cameron Smith to quit Melbourne Storm.
The Daily Telegraph understands the Broncos are also still discreetly chasing Manly's and Australia's outstanding half-back Daly Cherry-Evans.
Replies
did he ever pay back his sign on bonus?
Hahahahahahaha! I don't know how or why Ricky has such a good relationship with "The Press" but now he is being lauded a hero because Milford has decided to play 2014 in Canberra before returning to Brisbane. Ricky's master coaching and man management has convinced a guy who doesn't want to be there and a guy who won't be there beyond next season to play for a team he doesn't really want to be in. I smell someone is who is desperate and is worried that his coaching career may not last beyond next season.
Anthony Milford
Page 112.
I just wanted to post 2 quotes in the article.
'Anthony has stuck by his word and that's what we expected all along,' Stuart said &'Both Anthony and his manager Sam Ayoub have done the honourable thing'
This bloke is a megalomaniac of the highest order.
I consider myself a person with a reasonable moral compass, but this bloke gas the audacity to talk this way after all he's done to us.
I know it's water under the bridge to some, but hypocrisy like this (and I mean of the highest order) is staggering.
I actually feel bad for raiders fans.
'Anthony has stuck by his word and that's what we expected all along,' Stuart said - HYPOCRITE PRICKY
'Anthony and his manager Sam Ayoub have done the honourable thing' Stuart said - HYPOCRITE PRICKY
Yep, IMO RS is the ultimate authority on the NRL code of honourable conduct. Probably along the lines of be fair, straight forward, direct & honest without malice, deceit or deception. From a Parra perspective, definitely lead by example.
Sorry, when Ricky came to this club on a 3 year "get out clause"contract. What changed in his family situation in that year? - We all know he has an autistic daughter, & I applaud him for bringing out into the open the difficulties of bringing up kids with long term challenges....But to cite his family for the reason for the move back to Canberra is hypocrisy, wrapped in a call for empathy. The get out clause was for whenever Furner got the bullet, & would not have been used until he got the bullet. - He was here a year, came in like a wrecking ball & was probably exactly what we needed. - Got rid of the deadwood to a great extent. - So many new faces next year; players, coaching staff & front office. It's like a whole new team & there's a real buzz about the joint, unlike the last 3-4 years. - So happy he's gone, & after all the Daily Liberal stories, nearly every day about the dysfunctional Eels, & their search for a coach/CEO, real pleased we ended up with BA.- Players want to play under him, & he's changed the whole furniture, & getting more players that have been coached by him wanting to come here, than the last 3 coaches combined!!
I hope Rickies Autistic daughter tells hem to fuck off 47 times a day for the next ten years,,,
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