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On Monday, three charges of assault were withdrawn, and Milford plead guilty to one count of public nuisance and one count of wilful damage.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.
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 for the 2022 season but found himself in limbo when the NRL refused to register his contract until charges relating to the September incident were resolved.
The Newcastle Knights moved to register Milford this week, and he is expected to join the team for training on Monday.
Tomorrow the Knights take on the Dragons in Wollongong.
The club did not comment on its new signing.
