All eyes will be on Milford if Samoa shifts him

[Super Freak]

Anthony Milford’s touted move to fullback for Samoa would be watched with interest in clubland

June 19, 2018

ANTHONY Milford’s possible switch to fullback for Samoa in Saturday’s Pacific Test against Tonga will be keenly watched in the NRL.

After a mixed start to the season and claims he hasn’t lived up to his marquee salary, some including Immortal Wally Lewis have questioned whether Milford should be moved from five-eighth to fullback for Brisbane.

With the departure of Ben Hunt, Milford took on the primary playmaking duties for the Broncos but he has struggled in the role at times.

The 23-year-old is a gifted ball-runner who appears well suited to fullback, his position when he arrived in first grade and where he played for Samoa during the 2013 World Cup.

Broncos coach Wayne Bennett has numerous times reiterated that he’ll keep playing Milford at five eighth and, with captain Darius Boyd at fullback, it would take a drastic change of tack to move him.

However it shapes as an interesting sub-plot to Saturday’s game at Campbelltown Stadium.

Milford spent time catching high balls and standing at the back of the Samoa defensive line during the team’s training run on Tuesday, suggesting coach Matt Parish will use him at No.1.

However he also chimed in at first and second receiver and took on kicking duties.

Along with Milford, Samoa boast Warriors half Mason Lino and Penrith’s Tyrone May, meaning they have plenty of choices in the halves.

“I have no idea, I’ll have to wait and see,” said Milford when asked if he’ll play fullback.

“The good thing is we have a lot of depth and we can put players where they want. We’ll see which combinations work better and see how we go in training. “I’m always open to anything. If it’s what’s best for the team and how I can put my best foot forward, that’s what I’ll do.” Saturday’s game shapes as a litmus test for Samoa against a Tonga side brimming with top line talent including Andrew Fifita, Jason Taumalolo and Michael Jennings.

After failing to win a game at last year’s World Cup, and being soundly beaten 32-18 by semi-finalists Tonga during their group fixture, Samoa must show they’re keeping pace with the other rapidly improving Pacific nations. Milford said the team’s goal was to one day be acknowledged as a tier-one nation, along with Australia, New Zealand and England.

“To be as big as them (the tier-one nations), that’s the mindset the boys have at the moment,” Milford said.

“It’s about the growth of the game and the more players that pick their nations, the stronger (the Pacific Test) will get, the more even the playing field will be.

“You saw what Tonga did, they got all their players to play for them.”

Source: Fox Sports

 

[jarro65]

Stubborn old Wayne wont move him now, it would make him look foolish.

 

[Foordy]

Nothing article ... Milford will probably end up playing 5/8 for Samoa anyway

 

[Mitch06]

Tyrone May and Mason Lino are in the squad without a recognised fulback? It makes sense that they might play him there.

 

[WASSHHH]

Stubborn old Wayne wont move him now, it would make him look foolish.

Exactly.

Milford could miss 0 tackles, save 10 tries, score 15, setup 20 and run for over 1000m at fullback and it would make no difference, Wayne will still play him at 6 for the Broncos.

 

[Nashy]

Hope he plays 5/8. We already have our next FB sorted.

 

[winslow_wong]

Exactly.

Milford could miss 0 tackles, save 10 tries, score 15, setup 20 and run for over 1000m at fullback and it would make no difference, Wayne will still play him at 6 for the Broncos.

Could have been the next ben barba bulldogs edition.

 

[Cult]

Exactly.

Milford could miss 0 tackles, save 10 tries, score 15, setup 20 and run for over 1000m at fullback and it would make no difference, Wayne will still play him at 6 for the Broncos.

He could also miss 10 tackles, get 15 tries scored on him, score 0 and run for 10m and it would still be Ben Hunts fault

 

[Super Freak]

Exactly.

Milford could miss 0 tackles, save 10 tries, score 15, setup 20 and run for over 1000m at fullback and it would make no difference, Wayne will still play him at 6 for the Broncos.

Because we don't need another fullback.

We need a 5/8.

 

[john1420]

Stubborn old Wayne wont move him now, it would make him look foolish.

I really don't view Wayne this way

He knows the only thing that can truly make a coach look foolish is losing

He also know his job is to win

I just don't see Wayne thinking to himself....."If we did this positional shift we would win more games but I won't do it because the fans will think badly of me"

Sorry, just no

If Darbs stays at 1 and the Milf at 6 (which of course we all think will happen) it's because Wayne believes that's the best make up for the team

He may be wrong, we can debate that for sure, but he isn't sitting on team improvements worried about what people think

 

[Porthoz]

I really don't view Wayne this way

He knows the only thing that can truly make a coach look foolish is losing

He also know his job is to win

I just don't see Wayne thinking to himself....."If we did this positional shift we would win more games but I won't do it because the fans will think badly of me"

Sorry, just no

If Darbs stays at 1 and the Milf at 6 (which of course we all think will happen) it's because Wayne believes that's the best make up for the team

He may be wrong, we can debate that for sure, but he isn't sitting on team improvements worried about what people think

I don't think he worries about what people in general (fans, media, etc...) think, but I'm also not sure his ego would allow admitting failure to himself and people who do matter, like his players or the Broncos board.

 

[john1420]

I don't think he worries about what people in general (fans, media, etc...) think, but I'm also not sure his ego would allow admitting failure to himself and people who do matter, like his players or the Broncos board.

I guess we'll never know for sure, but I suspect that Wayne would rather admit a positional change didn't work, than have the team fail

Broncos not making the 8 (for example) would surely be a bigger ego hit than trying a positional change and then reverting

 

[Mister Wright]

If fullback was a position of weakness for him I could understand a push by fans to move him to fullback. But with quality options like Boyd, Isaako, Kahu & even someone like Corey Alan we are well covered for that position. The halves is a different story, so it makes sense to have Milford as our starting fivve-eight.

 

[pagey]

I think it could be a great confidence boost for him if he plays fullback. It could get his running game back on track

 

[john1420]

Putting Milf at the back may be the best thing for Milf, but is it the best thing for the team?

I don't know, and I'm glad I don't have to make that choice :)

 

[Porthoz]

I guess we'll never know for sure, but I suspect that Wayne would rather admit a positional change didn't work, than have the team fail

Broncos not making the 8 (for example) would surely be a bigger ego hit than trying a positional change and then reverting

Sure, you may be right, but it may not be a conscious thing, especially after his firm decisions and declarations on the matter. People often push things trying to save face until it's too late. Besides, I'm also not sure he can be objective about Boyd.

Dropping someone you've had a privileged relationship with for a long time (who he knows could suffer psychologically), who is also the Broncos captain, may just be a bridge too far.

FTR, this is not a slight on Wayne, because I know I would find it hard, if not impossible, to do it in the same situation. It is a slight on the Broncos head coach though, if you know what I mean.
This is why relationships between superiors and underlings are frowned upon, because they're often unfair on the people involved, and can become promiscuous, or even lead to nepotism.

If fullback was a position of weakness for him I could understand a push by fans to move him to fullback. But with quality options like Boyd, Isaako, Kahu & even someone like Corey Alan we are well covered for that position. The halves is a different story, so it makes sense to have Milford as our starting fivve-eight.

I don't actually think Milford should be moved to fullback now, we're well past that and have a shortage of capable halves, not fullbacks as you say.

All his one performance for Samoa there could do, is indicate how well he can go as an off the cuff support player, without the burden of being the game controlling and kicking half.

 

[john1420]

Sure, you may be right, but it may not be a conscious thing, especially after his firm decisions and declarations on the matter. People often push things trying to save face until it's too late. Besides, I'm also not sure he can be objective about Boyd.

Dropping someone you've had a privileged relationship with for a long time (who he knows could suffer psychologically), who is also the Broncos captain, may just be a bridge too far.

FTR, this is not a slight on Wayne, because I know I would find it hard, if not impossible, to do it in the same situation. It is a slight on the Broncos head coach though, if you know what I mean.
This is why relationships between superiors and underlings are frowned upon, because they're often unfair on the people involved, and can become promiscuous, or even lead to nepotism.


I don't actually think Milford should be moved to fullback now, we're well past that and have a shortage of capable halves, not fullbacks as you say.

All his one performance for Samoa there could do, is indicate how well he can go as an off the cuff support player, without the burden of being the game controlling and kicking half.

And I may not be right too :)

You are right in that Wayne may be blind to his own bias, and this could be where the Boyd/Bennett relationship is not healthy (and I would suggest the only place)

 

[I bleed Maroon]

I tell you what, this Lachlan Lamb playing for PNG isn't a bad half