NEWS Leaving shortly: final call for passengers Milford and Croft

[theshed]

Kevin Walters on Dearden's selection:

"I will make the tough calls. I’ve had to leave Billy Slater out of the State of Origin side and that was a tough call, that still haunts me."

“Anthony is a running five-eighth and Brodie (Croft) is an organising halfback, so I need them to do that. There is pressure on both of those two (Milford and Croft) to do well as a duo. We have simplified their roles this week so they have clear instructions on their role within the team."

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In his sights

“It’s a key part of the team environment, the six and the seven, and I feel we haven’t got enough out of those two in the opening two rounds and they admit that as well. They are taking ownership of that, so this week is an opportunity to get their games back on track. I am looking forward to seeing how that goes together and then adding Tom into the mix on the field, it creates some good attacking opportunities for us which we didn’t have last week.”

“We just felt that John Asiata is one guy who needs a rest. Tom is the ideal guy to come in, he covers a few positions. It will be a good opportunity for Tom as well. We will get him on the field and let him be Tom. He likes running the ball and kicking the ball and is strong in defence so it’s a good opportunity for him. Depending on how the game unfolds and what we need from our players, we might put him in at hooker as well and give Jake Turpin a rest. Tom brings some good options.”

McHunt

Kev really mixing up the words ‘tough’ and ‘wrong’ in that first paragraph.

 

[McHunt]

Kev really mixing up the words ‘tough’ and ‘wrong’ in that first paragraph.

I was expecting him to make this call, but not for a couple of weeks. Looks like he's already seen enough.

All the talk is on the halves without anyone mentioning he's more likely to come on for Turpin. He might need to look over his shoulder as well.

 

[McHunt]

I'm with Kevvie on this. I suggested it in fact that we put Deardon at 14 a few weeks ago, but it got given short shrift by a few on here. It allows us to rest Turps and adds a fresh attacking option as I think Tommy has been happy playing as a running six so taking this game into the nine spot for short burst will (I'm sure) pay dividends. It also gives us another option to kick from dummy half and I can see him swap with Croft if things are not looking good. In short, there is more upside to this than down for mine.

Also, bringing him on to replace Turps against the weakest team, isn't a bad way for Kevvie to get a look at his defence.

 

[theshed]

I was expecting him to make this call, but not for a couple of weeks. Looks like he's already seen enough.

All the talk is on the halves without anyone mentioning he's more likely to come on for Turpin. He might need to look over his shoulder as well.

I was hoping he’d give Dearden at least 4 games of Q cup, and the other 2 a couple weeks to prove their cases. The worst of the 2 (unless they’re firing by some miracle) drop out for Dearden. Or you start Dearden from the beginning and at most put one of the squids on the bench (Croft probably) and keep it like that unless Dearden struggles.

Even now I think he’s chopping and changing too soon but if he has really had enough of the 2 potatoes in the halves then drop one and bring Dearden on. This is the last I’ll rave on about this point but giving Dearden 1 q cup game then bringing him on the bench is the worst of all available options.


We’ll see how it plays out, and I’m reserving judgment but this my first red flag for Kev.

 

[BroncosFever]

My fear is that against the Bulldogs, we beat the shit out of them and Dearden doesn't get a look in

He looks to be a better player than Croft, the only actual thing Croft has ever had in his favor is he came from the Melbourne Storm system, outside of that.. I don't see anything that tells me he should be picked ahead of Dearden

 

[pagey]

I was hoping he’d give Dearden at least 4 games of Q cup, and the other 2 a couple weeks to prove their cases. The worst of the 2 (unless they’re firing by some miracle) drop out for Dearden. Or you start Dearden from the beginning and at most put one of the squids on the bench (Croft probably) and keep it like that unless Dearden struggles.

Even now I think he’s chopping and changing too soon but if he has really had enough of the 2 potatoes in the halves then drop one and bring Dearden on. This is the last I’ll rave on about this point but giving Dearden 1 q cup game then bringing him on the bench is the worst of all available options.


We’ll see how it plays out, and I’m reserving judgment but this my first red flag for Kev.

After last week it isn't really a luxury though, if Croft and Milford were going good I doubt he bring Dearden in. I think Kevvie sees this as a must win game , he needs runs on the board and so does the team.
Like I mentioned before, I doubt Dearden backs up next week unless he kills it and the other 2 shit the bed.

 

[Finbar]

And it doesn't seem to be fitness or ability related, it seems to be more a case of teams figuring him out and easily containing him.

This is a good point. While many think Milford just needs the freedom to run and then we will see the best of him, it's quite possible that his running game has been figured out and he hasn't been able to adapt or reinvent himself. Benji Marshall wasn't able to do what he did in 2005 year after year and I doubt Milford will ever reach the heights of 2015 again, simply because no team will let him.

He's looked clumsy and lost for too long now for me to think he will offer anything more than the occasional highlight in between large periods of mediocrity.

 

[McHunt]

My fear is that against the Bulldogs, we beat the shit out of them and Dearden doesn't get a look in

He looks to be a better player than Croft, the only actual thing Croft has ever had in his favor is he came from the Melbourne Storm system, outside of that.. I don't see anything that tells me he should be picked ahead of Dearden

There's another wildcard, and that's Dearden's contract. Kevvie wants the next Alfie at 7. If he thinks Dearden is good, but not the premiership winning halfback he wants, he might give the green light to letting him go. Otherwise, if he likes what he sees he might encourage upstairs to lock him down.

I very much doubt Milford and Croft are in his second year plan, but he's better off giving them their chance early on, if he has Dearden in mind for the run home.

 

[theshed]

After last week it isn't really a luxury though, if Croft and Milford were going good I doubt he bring Dearden in. I think Kevvie sees this as a must win game , he needs runs on the board and so does the team.
Like I mentioned before, I doubt Dearden backs up next week unless he kills it and the other 2 shit the bed.

If they aren’t good enough drop them. It’s a desperation move to avoid 1 more loss in a season of plenty instead of working toward the future. It’s Seiboldesque. We’ll see how it works out

 

[McHunt]

After last week it isn't really a luxury though, if Croft and Milford were going good I doubt he bring Dearden in. I think Kevvie sees this as a must win game , he needs runs on the board and so does the team.
Like I mentioned before, I doubt Dearden backs up next week unless he kills it and the other 2 shit the bed.

Yes, that's a good point. He's getting to have his cake and eat it by using him off the bench. He can always bring Asiata back from a rest - given he's carrying an injury - without it looking like he's dropping Dearden.

 

[holdzy]

Isn't the ideal outcome that Dearden doesn't even get on?

Milf and Croft carve up and Turpin lasts 80 with high quality output.

Next best scenario, we are up 30+ with twenty to go and you let Dearden on to have a crack.

 

[McHunt]

Isn't the ideal outcome that Dearden doesn't even get on?

Milf and Croft carve up and Turpin lasts 80 with high quality output.

Next best scenario, we are up 30+ with twenty to go and you let Dearden on to have a crack.

I don't think it does any harm for the coach to see what difference he makes.

 

[pagey]

If they aren’t good enough drop them. It’s a desperation move to avoid 1 more loss in a season of plenty instead of working toward the future. It’s Seiboldesque. We’ll see how it works out

Desperate times , Desperate measures.
I don't care for anything but a win or we could be 0 from God knows. A good win will put some wind in their sails , also get our starting props back next week. Like I said we don't have the luxury to let Dearden sit in cup with what Croft and Milford have produced.

 

[holdzy]

I don't think it does any harm for the coach to see what difference he makes.

Circumstances though. Like I said, ideally he isn't needed, the halves fire up and dominate. He's there to put a rocket up them. If they don't deliver, sure, chuck him on.

 

[McHunt]

Circumstances though. Like I said, ideally he isn't needed, the halves fire up and dominate. He's there to put a rocket up them. If they don't deliver, sure, chuck him on.

It's not just whether he's needed but whether he's an improvement. If so, he gets elevated next week. Otherwise it's back for more sultanas.

 

[BroncosFever]

There's another wildcard, and that's Dearden's contract. Kevvie wants the next Alfie at 7. If he thinks Dearden is good, but not the premiership winning halfback he wants, he might give the green light to letting him go. Otherwise, if he likes what he sees he might encourage upstairs to lock him down.

I very much doubt Milford and Croft are in his second year plan, but he's better off giving them their chance early on, if he has Dearden in mind for the run home.

You are right there but I just think Dearden is a natural halfback, I have seen him run, kick well, get early ball to our strike players (that infamous Staggs try last season against the Dragons)

Milford is at the point now where they've tried to turn him into a game managing half just because of the situation the club has been in since Hunt left and it's not his go, I think they've coached his best attributes out of his game. Then you combine that with the emphasis on defense, they've obviously tried to get a bit more size into him. He's not a viable ball runner anymore and he takes the wrong option too many times when he is asked to control the game with his kicking.

I think he will struggle to get a contract anywhere with how he going at the moment, it would have to be in a side that has a dominant half already and he can just play off the back of it near the opposition's try line. Would you pay 1 million a season for that sort of player? It's not really a hard decision for Kevvie to make, if he is honest with Milford and honest with himself. I think Kevvie is doing a great job and I know we are sitting at 0-2 so it all looks the same but you can see the effort and commitment is there, it's just a young roster with no leadership in the key positions where you need it the most.

Whatever happens with Milford going forward, he will not be playing for 1 mill a season going forward, he'd have to channel his inner Darren Lockyer or something for that to happen.

 

[holdzy]

It's not just whether he's needed but whether he's an improvement. If so, he gets elevated next week. Otherwise it's back for more sultanas.

If the halves perform and actually dominate then it would be hard to justify changing. This is a must win game, not an experiment imo. He only gets on if the halves suck or we are up by enough to see if he can rack up points while we are on top.

 

[theshed]

Desperate times , Desperate measures.
I don't care for anything but a win or we could be 0 from God knows. A good win will put some wind in their sails , also get our starting props back next week. Like I said we don't have the luxury to let Dearden sit in cup with what Croft and Milford have produced.

I’ll guess we will see. It all depends how he’s used. Hopefully he gets some quality time in the halves, puts all doubt of being first grade ready to bed and we go on a roll with Dearden first named every week.