Broncos five-eighth Anthony Milford will this week go under the knife for a shoulder reconstruction, surgery that will be followed by five months of rehabilitation.
The 24-year-old sustained a subluxation of the shoulder in the first half of the 48-16 win over the Sea Eagles in round 25. He still played a starring role in securing the Broncos a home final.
He carried the injury the following week in the elimination final loss to the St George Illawarra Dragons but Broncos high performance manager Jeremy Hickmans said that due to the extent of the problem, where the shoulder joint pops out and goes back in again, he requires surgery.
The injury is on the same shoulder which required Milford to have reconstructive surgery at the end of the 2017 season.
"He actually subluxed his shoulder in the first half against Manly but he managed to play on and handle it for the rest of that game and the following week," Hickmans said.
"He will need reconstructive surgery now and to undertake the associated rehabilitation time of about five months.
"That should have him back on the field for the opening to the 2019 season."
Milford also missed a slab of last year's pre-season training but played the opening round of 2018 against St George Illawarra alongside Kodi Nikorima.
The Maroons representative played all 25 of the Broncos games in 2018.
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