NEWS Footy legends call on Wayne Bennett to shift Anthony Milford to fullback for Brisbane

[GCBRONCO]

He also carried us to the grand final in 2015 dude, was a legitimate CC winner as well. Unfortunately for Kodi as he’s a good player but if someone has to be chopped I hope it’s him and we find someone that can partner him well.

Milford didn't carry us to the 2015 Grand Final, the contributions were there across the board from the side, the cohesion in that side was the best since 2011 (when Lockyer retired). But it wasn't like Milford was working with spine duds like an overweight Ben Barba or Josh Hoggman.

 

[pagey]

If this were a video game and my team was struggling like the broncos I would do this:

9. Kniko
7. Macca
6. Boyd
1. Milford


With instructions for Kniko to play a running halfback like Hook and Isaac Luke to help the forwards build momentum. Milford would be asked to put in the odd grubbed inside the opposition’s 10.


It’s not a video game though so you do none of that and hope either Kniko begins to step up or one of our lower grade halves starts having a blinding hot run of form.

Keep boyd at the back, his experience at the back is what we need . Milf can play off macca and boyd. We need a deeper attack imo . Milf seems to run out of room , he needs to get deeper

 

[007]

**** me...Wallys lost his mind. Milford has acceleration speed, which is ideal in short distance attack - ie number 6. Putting Milf at 1 is a complete waste of time.

 

[Socnorb]

• Keep boyd at the back, his experience at the back is what we need . Milf can play off macca and boyd. We need a deeper attack imo . Milf seems to run out of room , he needs to get deeper

  Forwards need to create more space.

 

[pagey]

• 
  Forwards need to create more space.

Which isn't happening, our second rowers are more defensive orientated which dos'nt help.

 

[Thelmus]

People forget how good hunt was in 2015, they only remember the penultimate moment in the gf. He was big part of the broncos getting there.
I hope Milford puts in an improved effort this round as I think he owes the team and wb after his start to this year. Ironically, it isnt that his kicking or passing is letting him down, just his application when things get tough.
That is either attitude or fitness.
I don't buy the argument, it's all the fault of our forwards getting beaten. Other teams have had far worse packs than this one and had their halves play better.
That said, he's not responsible for the others dropping passes or bad reads in defence.
There needs to be an across the board evaluation of attitudes to game focus. Something mentally is upsetting this team and it needs to fixed ASAP.

 

[Number6]

• 
  Forwards need to create more space.

The problem is it’s all a circular argument. Can’t just blame one aspect.

If back three doesn’t start set with momentum forwards take longer to get back, waste an extra tackle and set is on back set from the start.

Then if forwards don’t push forward and get slow play the balls, halves and backs have no platform to attack.

If backs don’t threaten then defence can compress and jam the forwards push.

If whole team is going no where halves struggle to kick the ball to free space to keep opposition pinned. But similarly if halves can’t kick then rest of team including forwards are forever working from deep in own territory.

If attack stinks and players aren’t getting to play to their strengths then attitude suffers and defence is hugely based in attitude (not to mention too tired from making too many unnecessary tackles).

Some solutions are easier then others.

Forwards, drop dead weight and blood some young enthusiastic bucks may not pay off straight away but Sims, Thaiday and Glenn are going nowhere except slowly to failure. Even then it isn’t a big pack, need to use agile offloading forwards with Sua and TPJ getting some aggression into the rib cages of opposition halves.

Hooker - get Macca moving forward by prioritising service and runs, get him someone to share some workload so he isn’t too tired to do anything but tackle.

Halves. Might need to take a punt on Dargan or another second tier. Hell I’d take Shane Perry back from retirement at this point. Nikon will be fine at 6. Get Bird to help out as a ball playing 13. With Milf at back can have genuine first and second receivers either side of ruck or a few options to be the try assist passer when spread wide.

Backs - get Hodges stuck into the centres to go searching for ball.

Back three. Relocate Milf, maybe pay Oates a little more for quality on the wing (let him get in as a spare second rower more) and send some bloody scouts to Fiji (congrats Boyd on new job as chief of Broncos Fiji recruitment, no running or whinging to refs required).

Training. Need to get the guys enjoying the basics. Need some really hard nose defence sessions but need to get someone in who can actually teach them that if take pride in the micro skills (I.e holding the ball under pressure, getting play the ball quick and right) then rest will be so much easier. There are no superstars in this team but need to learn that superstars do the basic skills right first.

Overall strategy. Free up the structure a bit and give the talented runners early ball, get some offloads going. If NRL players can’t hold the ball they either don’t belong in NRL or there are some serious issues in training and mindset to stay present enough to hold the ball. Need to show some faith in the players and get them to buy into a game plan that feature their talents rather than you can’t be trusted to hold the ball. 4 hit ups, a crap shift at slow mo by Boyd and a worse kick...

 

[uptheguts]

I had the same thoughts as Wally last year. It might be worth a try. But I can see the logic of a previous blogger who said that the days of the big fullback busts might be over due to the improved quality of the kick chase. He could very well struggle to have much impact at fullback as well.
The sad truth is that Milford has not proven himself over the last three years to be a consistent performer at six even if he does still have the odd brilliant game .
He throws too many bad passes , especially when under fatigue. He seem to make too many solo runs with no result. His kicking game is very inconsistent and he does not seem to pose the attacking threat we thought he would be when we are attacking the line.
Just maybe we need to rethink the whole deal eg Bird to six and Milford to the bench and come on when the big forwards are fatigued. I don't have the answers , but it is staring to look like a long year.
As an after thought, what about Todd Carney? Is he still playing Qld cup? He could be nice second option if things don't ger better soon.

 

[WASSHHH]

Tuivasa-Sheck, Mbye, Trbojevic & Edwards have been pretty regularly either breaking the line or busting multiple tackles and getting the team on the front foot on kick returns. I think it's a very important part of the game right now, and we have the worst Fullback in the NRL at getting the team on the front foot, best case scenario for Darius on a kick return is jogging 10 metres, getting driven back 4 metres and then complaining to the ref for 3 seconds before playing the ball.

This is just ridiculous - Boyd complains for way longer than 3 seconds.

 

[Alec]

To be honest, there should be far more advantages to a limited ball player / strong ball runner at fullback than in the halves. Like if your team plays with split halves (like we still do), your fullback is the only one that pops up on BOTH sides of the field. They also get the ball out wider than any half, and the defence is far more spread out there, so all they have to do is throw a finishing pass or run themselves. They don't have to think too much.

There are a lot of similarities between a young Ponga and young Milford back then...and you couldn't imagine Ponga going well in the halves.

But on the other hand, I don't think this would actually solve anything. We still won't have a proper halfback.

 

[Mr Fourex]

They called for him to go to #1 in 2015 as well, made a lot of experts eat their words.

Curious as to who these experts think is going to play #6 in his stead?

I believe Kodi is going to get the butt end of this deal but he can’t partner Milford, if we have to choose I hope we keep Milford.

Pretty sure the experts mentioned they think Boyd should go into the no.6.

As mentioned in other threads. Milford has no room to move at the minute. He is flat footed and those around him are flat footed. The forwards aren't getting the roll on any half needs to open up in attack. McCullough isn't giving him clean enough ball. There aren't enough players in motion around Milford.......

You can see Milford is frustrated.......the space just isn't there, no-one else is asking questions of the opposition, so when Milford does get the ball, the defence just swallows him knowing that he is the one Brisbane are relying on to produce the "magic".

Players across the team dropping the ball on the first tackle 4-5 times a game...certainly isn't helping things. There are so many other things not quite right with the entire team right now, other than the answer being ...move Milford back to fullback.

 

[Maroon4life]

Pretty sure the experts mentioned they think Boyd should go into the no.6.

As mentioned in other threads. Milford has no room to move at the minute. He is flat footed and those around him are flat footed. The forwards aren't getting the roll on any half needs to open up in attack. McCullough isn't giving him clean enough ball. There aren't enough players in motion around Milford.......

You can see Milford is frustrated.......the space just isn't there, no-one else is asking questions of the opposition, so when Milford does get the ball, the defence just swallows him knowing that he is the one Brisbane are relying on to produce the "magic".

Players across the team dropping the ball on the first tackle 4-5 times a game...certainly isn't helping things. There are so many other things not quite right with the entire team right now, other than the answer being ...move Milford back to fullback.

Don’t agree but can understand the reasoning

 

[pagey]

Pretty sure the experts mentioned they think Boyd should go into the no.6.

As mentioned in other threads. Milford has no room to move at the minute. He is flat footed and those around him are flat footed. The forwards aren't getting the roll on any half needs to open up in attack. McCullough isn't giving him clean enough ball. There aren't enough players in motion around Milford.......

You can see Milford is frustrated.......the space just isn't there, no-one else is asking questions of the opposition, so when Milford does get the ball, the defence just swallows him knowing that he is the one Brisbane are relying on to produce the "magic".

Players across the team dropping the ball on the first tackle 4-5 times a game...certainly isn't helping things. There are so many other things not quite right with the entire team right now, other than the answer being ...move Milford back to fullback.

Exactly , but also not to say milford can't do more. He needs to tell his runners what he wants and needs them to do .
Macca looked so dangerous in the cowboys game because he was asking so many questions with his scoots (obviously quick play the balls helped).
I think the titans got a xtra meter or so on their 10 , they werw getting off their line extremely quick. But that's when we need to kick early and put pressure in defense (also thought we were getting rorted for our 10, refs pinged us alot especially McGuire).
I think Gillett to lock when sua comes on , let him play on the edge. We need some big bodies on the edges asking questions, as said bodies in motion.

 

[broncos4life]

Don’t agree but can understand the reasoning

Don't agree? What don't you agree with?

Do you believe that Milford not playing fullback is the only thing wrong with this team?

 

[the_next]

How about we bring thru or buy a decent 7..?
Free Milf up, and let him play his role as a 6. Since when was Milf ever a game manager? They are forcing him to become something he is not. The fact is recruitment cant keep the talent that has come thru.. I don't understand these articles.
I don't understand the fact that people are expecting him as a 6 to be a 7.
He needs a controlling 7, someone who compliments him so he can roam, run and play off instinct. That is the type of player he is, he is not a game manager.
Pretty simple stuff really.

 

[Broncos Maestro]

... best case scenario for Darius on a kick return is jogging 10 metres...

I’ve seen my grandma and her friends jog faster than Boyd.

 

[Aldo]

I’ve seen my grandma and her friends jog faster than Boyd.

Yeah, but I bet they can't stop and prop and twirl in a circle and then hit the ground better than Boyd?

 

[Cult]

She probably wouldn't get penalized for running behind her friends after they've broken through the line for no reason though.