Bennett urges Rabbitohs to pursue Milford as Gagai signs with Knights

Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett has confirmed the club would be eager to acquire Anthony Milford at the right price following Dane Gagai’s move to Newcastle.

Despite no official announcement yet from the Knights, Bennett said Gagai informed his teammates of the three-year deal on Friday morning.

The signing paves the way for the Rabbitohs to make a play from Milford who is off contract this year.

“He’s just told the team on the team bus now on our way home from training that he’s going to Newcastle,” Souths coach Wayne Bennett said about Gagai’s signing.

“South Sydney couldn’t offer him a long-term contract so we knew he was on the move. He went to Newcastle in 2012, we actually took him down there when the Broncos didn’t want him. So he’s spent a lot of his career at Newcastle and he’s got family there and I think he’s pretty happy about going back.”

Bennett said while he won’t be at the club in 2022, the potential signing of Milford would be a “great acquisition” for South Sydney.

Dane Gagai, right, is moving to the Knights, which could open room for South Sydney to sign Anthony Milford, left. Credit:Getty

“That’s a decision that is not on my watch now but up to the people staying and the rest of the club.

“But I wouldn’t have my hesitation if the market value was there and could benefit South Sydney which I believe it would. It’s just the price they can pay and what they can do.”

The Broncos have already seen Tevita Pangai jnr leave the club this week, first signing a three-year deal with the Bulldogs to start in 2022 and then a three-month deal with the Panthers for the end of the current season.

The Broncos told Pangai in June he was free to look elsewhere for next year and had originally weighed up an offer from the Wests Tigers.

But Tigers coach Michael Maguire was unable to secure his signature, an outcome he described as disappointing on Friday.

“We’ve got to move forward we are a club,” he said about missing out on Pangai. “We are definitely building through our youths and looking for great talent to continually join us. Sometimes you get them and sometimes you don’t but Tevita is a good fellow and I wish him all the best.”

Pangai is set to join Penrith ahead of their round 21 clash against the Roosters.

Coach Ivan Cleary said he believes the 25-year-old’s short stint will be a test for the club’s culture, with many believing the signing is a risky move for the premiership hopefuls.

“That’s the challenge that we all have to embrace and I’ll have to take responsibility for it personally,” Cleary said ahead of Saturday’s clash with the Broncos.

“For a short period of time in our environment I’m confident he can add to us and we might be able to help him a bit as well.”

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Sarah is a journalist for The Sydney Morning Herald.

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