Anthony Milford has shown few glimpses of his electric best since steering Brisbane to the 2015 NRL grand final, and he is yet to play this season because of a court case that hung over his head.
The former Queensland State of Origin livewire will be free to make an NRL comeback with the Knights in round 11, which could see him combine with attacking weapons Kalyn Ponga, Dane Gagai and Bradman Best.
But for now, doubts linger over the mental and physical conditioning of Milford, who began training with Newcastle on Wednesday.
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Rugby league legend Darren Lockyer stressed the importance of game time in a lower division.
“I think that would be a good pathway for him,” Lockyer said on Wide World of Sports’ QLDER.
“It would be a big ask to come back into the NRL straight away, so I think just get some footy under your belt… there’s nothing like match fitness and it doesn’t need to be NRL standard to get that match fitness. You just go and play some long minutes in the respective state cups.”
Milford’s first appearance as a Knight could come against the Eels in the NSW Cup on Sunday.
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“None of us here have much of an idea of what he’s been doing in the background to stay fit, to retain his physical fitness and his mental fitness,” said rugby league Immortal Wally Lewis on QLDER.
“It’s certainly a very tough period that he’s just been through, so I guess if he’s been looking after himself and he’s in prime condition he will go ahead.
“We’ve seen him produce some wonderful performances at Canberra, the Broncos, Queensland. It really has been one of those opportunities I think, and it will also depend on what position they intend to play him in.”
Milford has played 193 NRL games with the Raiders and Broncos.
He had three charges of assault against him dismissed in a Brisbane court this month.
The 27-year-old pleaded guilty to one count of public nuisance and one count of wilful damage, for which he was fined but had no conviction recorded.
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