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Milford, Smith stand out from pack with late cameos in NRL round 16

Anthony Milford and Cameron Smith saved their best till last in the major talking points of Round 16 of the NRL.

The Brisbane pivot Milford produced a Jekyll and Hyde performance, setting up two tries and playing a hand in another before inspiring the Broncos’ 26-22 win over Canberra with a 72nd-minute try.

Brisbane’s David Fifita became the first millennial to play NRL. Photo: AAP

In that match at Suncorp Stadium, David Fifita became the first player born in the 21st century to play in the NRL after his Broncos teammate Andrew McCullough became the first player born in the 1990s to play NRL.

On Friday night at Adelaide Oval, Smith again stamped his mark on the contest with an 80th-minute field goal to seal a memorable victory over Cooper Cronk and Sydney Roosters in a 9-8 thriller.

After a round in which the top eight established a six-point gap above ninth place, it will take something special for those below the Dragons, Rabbitohs, Storm, Panthers, Warriors, Roosters, Sharks and Broncos to make a case for finals action.

Sunday’s matches set up the push for finals.

Gold Coast ruined the Leichhardt comeback of former captain Robbie Farah with a stunning second half in the 30-12 win over Wests Tigers.

The win lifted the Titans equal with Canberra and Wests, with just eight games remaining.

Tigers coach Ivan Cleary said his side “continually shot ourselves in the foot”.

“Obviously there was a big crowd and big occasion today, which must have got to us. But you’d think at some point we’d be able to correct it throughout the game.”

Gold Coast spoiled the return of Wests Tigers’ Robbie Farah on Sunday. Photo: AAP

Titans coach Garth Brennan said it wasn’t his side’s best performance.

“But it was a gutsy effort and there were some times we made a dumb decision defensively or we came up with an error but we had guys there turning up to cover for their mates, which is pleasing,” Brennan said.

Tigers forward Michael Chee Kam was put on report for a first-half crusher tackle on Dale Copley.

In Cairns, an Adam Reynolds field goal fired South Sydney to a thrilling 21-20 NRL win over North Queensland, extending its winning streak to eight games.

North Queensland great Johnathan Thurston had his best game of the year but came up with several key mistakes in the dying minutes.

Souths prop Jason Clark will come under the scrutiny of the match review committee after he was put on report for a cannonball tackle.

After the weekend’s on-field action, the final word was left to Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart, who colourfully insisted his club won’t sack Jack Wighton despite him pleading guilt to assault charges.

“You are talking to a club that has been at the forefront of the whole competition in regards to discipline of poor behaviour. But our chairman Allan Hawke has asked to pass on to the players (that) we have no intention whatsoever in tearing up Jack Wighton’s contract,” Stuart said.

-with AAP

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