Today we take a look at our options in the halves for the Raiders Greatest Team in the National Youth Competition.
Contenders: Mick Picker, Sam Williams, Mitch Cornish, Matt Frawley, Lachlan Croker, Anthony Milford
Molyneux - “Williams and Milford are my choices in the halves. Williams was probably the best of the halves at his age in that era. Milford was the same but they complement each well. One is a running half who is very good on his feet while the other is very quick between the ears.”
Mulholland – “In the halves, it was quite hard actually. Anthony Milford speaks for himself and I’ve looked at Sam Williams because he does control and manage a game quite well and he’s done that at all different levels.”
Hamilton – “I’ve picked Milford as five-eighth because he can make anything happen on a football field. Sam Williams is my halfback because he is a calm player who can control the game. Having Williams at halfback is the closest thing to having a coach on the field.”
Final Choices:
Anthony Milford
17 appearances, 2012-2013
Although Anthony Milford was younger than most when he played in the NYC, his impact was emphatic.
In his first season with the side, the Samoan was integral in leading the Raiders to the Grand Final where they were eventually beaten by the Wests Tigers.
The following season, Milford became a regular fixture in the Raiders First Grade side, despite being only 19 years of age during his debut season.
Milford chose to join the Brisbane Broncos for the start of the 2015 season and has since gone on to represent Samoa and Queensland.
Sam Williams
52 appearances, 2009-2011
One of the Raiders most capped players at NYC level, Williams was named at halfback in the 2010 NYC Team of the Year.
Known for ability to control a game, Williams has made 70 NRL appearances and 24 Super League appearances to date.
Now in his third stint with the Raiders, the Cooma junior was also named the 2016 Intrust Super Premiership NSW Player of the Year for his performances for Mounties.
Canberra Raiders Greatest NYC Team
1. Josh Dugan
2. Edrick Lee
3. Jarrod Croker
4. Jack Wighton
5. Nick Cotric
6. Anthony Milford
7. Sam Williams
8.
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10.
11.
12.
13.
Bench
14.
15.
16.
17.
Having completed our backline, tomorrow we will select a pair of props.
Panelists Biographies
Barry Molyneux was the Raiders NYC long-serving team manager.
David Hamilton oversaw junior development at the Raiders from before the NYC’s inception in 2008 until 2015.
Peter Mulholland is the Raiders current Recruitment and High Performance manager, having taken over the role after Hamilton’s departure.
