NRL to let Anthony Milford play for Newcastle Knights, if he completes rehabilitation and development programs

Former Brisbane Broncos and Queensland State of Origin star Anthony Milford has been given the green light by the NRL to play for the Newcastle Knights, if he completes a series of rehabilitation and development programs.

The 27-year-old faced criminal charges over offences that caused a woman to fall and hit her head in September 2021, which sparked the NRL to block him from joining a new club.

On Monday, three charges of assault were withdrawn, and Milford plead guilty to one count of public nuisance and one count of wilful damage.

The NRL's strong approach to the fullback follows a conscious push from the code to hold players to account and crackdown on domestic violence.

«The NRL has zero tolerance for any form of violence involving women and will always take serious action in relation to such incidents,» said the NRL in a statement.

«The conditions placed on Milford's registration take into account the serious nature of the incident and focus on the education and rehabilitation of Milford prior to him being allowed to compete in the premiership.»

The NRL has granted Milford conditional registration to train with the Knights while he completes these programs.

But he will not be allowed to play in the competition until the NRL meets with him and signs off on it.

«He will not be permitted to play before Round 11, providing 4 weeks for the relevant programs and assessment,» the NRL statement said.

If all goes according to plan, Milford will join the Knights on May 19, in Round 11, when by chance they take on his former club the Broncos.

Last year, Brisbane did not renew the former State of Origin player's contract, where he had been on $1 million a season, after a tumultuous year.

Milford was set to join the South Sydney Rabbitohs