Welcome to dad life - Castleford Tigers star's lockdown baby joy

Boredom has not been a problem for Castleford Tigers forward Adam Milner during the Covid-19 crisis.
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In fact, the past couple of months have been among the most eventful and challenging of his life.

Milner’s partner Beth Smith gave birth to their son Laurie in April, when the country was in full lockdown.

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So while most of Milner’s teammates have been struggling to keep themselves occupied over almost three months without rugby, he has been taking a crash course in parenting.

Adam Milner with partner Beth Smith and baby Laurie. Picture c/o Adam Milner.Adam Milner with partner Beth Smith and baby Laurie. Picture c/o Adam Milner.
Adam Milner with partner Beth Smith and baby Laurie. Picture c/o Adam Milner.

Looking back on his son’s introduction to the world, Milner reflected: “It has been a different seven weeks for me - welcome to dad life, that’s how it has been.

“Every day is a concern with a new born and you’re just hoping for the best for him.”

Milner, 28, has been on furlough since before Laurie was born and the positive is he is getting to spend lots of time with his new son.

He admitted: “I am not sure how a lot of people cope.

Adam Milner in Betfred Super League round one action against Toronto Wolfpack. Picture by Tony Johnson.Adam Milner in Betfred Super League round one action against Toronto Wolfpack. Picture by Tony Johnson.
Adam Milner in Betfred Super League round one action against Toronto Wolfpack. Picture by Tony Johnson.
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“Lads have had to go and play games pretty much the day their baby’s been born, but I’ve been fortunate and had the luxury of spending every minute with him, really, since he was born.

“That has been a bit of a blessing for me. There’s a few lads at Cas all in the same boat, who’ve recently had babies, so in a way it has come at a good time for a lot of us.”

Laurie was born at Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield, at the height of the pandemic.

“It was quite difficult,” Milner said.

Adam Milner scores at Warirngton Wolves in last year's Super League play-offs. Picture by Bruce Rollinson.Adam Milner scores at Warirngton Wolves in last year's Super League play-offs. Picture by Bruce Rollinson.
Adam Milner scores at Warirngton Wolves in last year's Super League play-offs. Picture by Bruce Rollinson.

“Beth got induced two weeks early; she was given a date and a time to go into hospital, but I wasn’t allowed in.

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“I had to wait until she went into labour and then it was just a waiting game for me.

“I was sat at home with her mum just waiting for a phone call.

“As soon as I got that it was a quick rush up to the hospital.

“Luckily I only live down the road from Pinderfields.

“I walked into hospital, they put me a mask on and took me to the room and an hour later he was born, so it was quite an exciting few hours.

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“Both Laurie and Beth are good, but it has been a bit of a challenge.

“You are worried all the time, with every sneeze or cough you are wondering if he’s all right and you’re constantly checking on him, but it has been good.”

Milner is likely to have another couple of months to get to know Laurie before Betfred Super League resumes.

The competition is expected to begin again in August and he admitted the layoff - since Tigers’ win over St Helens on March 15 - has been “tough”.

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He said: “Just before lockdown came we were told to grab as much gym equipment as we could, but you have got to share that between 30-odd guys.

“At Cas we’ve got limited resources as it is so to share what we’ve got in the gym around 30 blokes is a bit of a challenge, but I think we are doing all right.

“We’ve all got weights in the back garden or at home so we’ve been able to do our gym stuff, then it’s literally going to local fields and training there.”

Milner made his debut for Tigers in 2010, as a hooker, but is now established at lock-forward. A former England academy captain, he made his Test debut in 2018 and was in good form before coronavirus struck.

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“We get sent programs to keep us ticking over, but it’s all ifs, buts and whens over when we’re going to return,” Milner added.

“I think for the first couple of weeks we were excited to be doing our own little bits, but you go through slumps where you lose motivation in training.

“It has been pretty tough really, but you’ve just got to do the best you can.

“It’s obviously a tough situation that everyone’s in, but those are the cards we’ve been dealt and we just have to crack on with it.”

A message from the Editor:

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