NEWS Milford ready to meet pressure head-on

[Super Freak]

Milford ready to meet pressure head-on

March 12, 2019

History looms large at Brisbane but Anthony Milford wants to embrace it so he can one day join the pantheon of club legends.

The Broncos have been given the NRL's toughest assignment – the Storm in Melbourne – to kick-start the 2019 Telstra Premiership on Thursday night.

They've welcomed a new coach in Anthony Seibold but once again it will be how Milford and halves partner Kodi Nikorima perform that determines whether promise is converted into a premiership.

Talk of great halves at Red Hill immediately gets names like Allan Langer, Kevin Walters and Darren Lockyer tossed around, but that's pretty much where it ends.

The unexpected departure of Ben Hunt to the Dragons and the earlier release of Ash Taylor to the Titans created a default halves combination of Milford and Nikorima in 2018.

Nikorima admits he struggled mentally with the constant speculation regarding his position in the team but Milford is adamant they are the ones to bring a seventh premiership to the club.

"I enjoy that expectation and that pressure that comes along with being a Bronco," Milford said.

"I just try and live it every day. We need to be better and I think we will.

"Kodi obviously went really well at the back-end of that (New Zealand) tour and I think that helped build his confidence. I think he'll roll that into round one.

"Obviously we need to be better and making sure we're leaving a mark on the Broncos. They demand success and I think we're the boys who need to bring it.

"I'll be doing everything in my power to make sure that happens."

Named man-of-the-match in New Zealand's dominant third Test win over England in November, Nikorima returned to training in January and a new coach.

He played a pivotal role in dragging Brisbane back from an 18-0 deficit to defeat the Titans 25-22 in their final trial.

"You'll see the ball in our hands a lot more, especially with our new shape and structures that Seibs has put in place," Nikorima said.

"I will say now that from what I've seen at training I'm pretty confident that we'll be pretty good this year."

Adds Milford: "What's good with the coach is that I think we're going to be a lot more hands-on with the ball which will suit us ball-runners. He'll bring my running game into play a lot more. We're getting our hands on the ball first up instead of playing out the back of our ruck which I think will benefit us and help to bring Kodi and myself into the game."

Kiwis coach Michael Maguire asked Nikorima to take control of the team in order to free up mercurial playmaker Shaun Johnson and he hopes to have a similarly positive influence on Milford.

"He's probably similar to Shaun Johnson in that they can create something out of nothing," Nikorima said.

"Not saying that I can't do that but they're naturally gifted ball-players and ball-runners so the more time I can be that first receiver and allow Milf to roam will benefit us as a team."

Milford's pre-season was a disrupted one with first a shoulder reconstruction and then a hamstring strain that has restricted his time training with Nikorima.

"Of course it's not ideal but they played together last year so it's not as though Kodi or Anthony Milford have come from a different club and haven't played any games together," Seibold said.

"It would have been good for them to have more reps together at training but the reality of it has been that Kodi toured with New Zealand and didn't come back until early January and Milf was coming back from a shoulder recon."

Source: NRL.com

 

[theshed]

There might be no player in bronco history that I’ve wanted to succeed more than Kodi. I still have a lot of doubts about his ability to be our long term half back but his attitude during his time at the broncos, despite everyone questioning his ability and constantly being shuffled around, is really impressive.

 

[M.B.88]

Interesting Kodi is looking to play first receiver more...

 

[Super Freak]

There might be no player in bronco history that I’ve wanted to succeed more than Kodi. I still have a lot of doubts about his ability to be our long term half back but his attitude during his time at the broncos, despite everyone questioning his ability and constantly being shuffled around, is really impressive.

Just don't tell him he isn't a halfback. He doesn't like that very much.

I'll never forget the look he gave me.

 

[Sproj]

Just don't tell him he isn't a halfback. He doesn't like that very much.

I'll never forget the look he gave me.

Quality way to support your team that.

 

[Nashy]

Quality way to support your team that.

Just because I support the team, does not mean I support every player who is selected in that team. If you're trash at your job, you deserve to be called out for it. Some fans just choose to scream it to their face instead.

 

[Sproj]

Just because I support the team, does not mean I support every player who is selected in that team. If you're trash at your job, you deserve to be called out for it. Some fans just choose to scream it to their face instead.

I would imagine supporters would try and put their bias aside and try and support anyone in the team so that the team can be successful. That said, I obviously don't have any problem with talking about whether any player should be in the side but to say something disrespectful to them personally, what point does that serve?

If a player isn't trying, ala Cartwright or Hiku, than go for your life but no one can question KNik's work ethic. The guy bleeds maroon and gold and improved out of sight at the back end of last year while being written off by all and sundry.

I hope he proves all his doubters wrong and I still believe he will. He has my total support, as does anyone else selected, regardless of whether I'd prefer someone else or not.

Pretty poor form regardless to say that to his face and I'll stand by that even if most disagree.

 

[Nashy]

I would imagine supporters would try and put their bias aside and try and support anyone in the team so that the team can be successful. That said, I obviously don't have any problem with talking about whether any player should be in the side but to say something disrespectful to them personally, what point does that serve?

If a player isn't trying, ala Cartwright or Hiku, than go for your life but no one can question KNik's work ethic. The guy bleeds maroon and gold and improved out of sight at the back end of last year while being written off by all and sundry.

I hope he proves all his doubters wrong and I still believe he will. He has my total support, as does anyone else selected, regardless of whether I'd prefer someone else or not.

Pretty poor form regardless to say that to his face and I'll stand by that even if most disagree.

I don't disagree at all. I was just hoping you weren't buying into the Facebook Broncos Fan bullshit of not being able to even think a bad thought about a Broncos player no matter who it is.

I think Kodi is a trash halfback, even after his improvement. CDan't say he doesn't try, he tries his little ass off. But I feel come the end of 2019, we will be saying the same thing. "BUY A GOD DAMNED HALFBACK!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

[Foordy]

But I feel come the end of 2019, we will be saying the same thing. "BUY A GOD DAMNED HALFBACK!!!!!!!!!!!"

my guess is that (if it hasn't happened already) we'll be saying "BLOODY GIVE DEARDEN (or SOS) A SHOT"

 

[tommy]

Yeah I'd prefer the players went into the season with confidence, not with their own fans telling them to their faces they don't belong where they are. Who can honestly say they wouldn't be offended if someone went up to them at work and told them they aren't a (insert occupation)

 

[Battler]

It sounds like Seibold has identified Milf’s strength (running game, intuitive play) and wants the halfback to be a traditional game manager so that Milf doesn’t get bogged down by trying to do a million things at once like he did last year. If Niko can’t do that he’ll find someone who can, but he won’t compromise Milf’s game.

At least that’s what I’m hoping this means.

 

[Nashy]

Yeah I'd prefer the players went into the season with confidence, not with their own fans telling them to their faces they don't belong where they are. Who can honestly say they wouldn't be offended if someone went up to them at work and told them they aren't a (insert occupation)

No one is saying that they shouldn't feel offence at it. It happens in every day life too, so you have to expect it will happen to people on big money too.

 

[Super Freak]

Yeah I'd prefer the players went into the season with confidence, not with their own fans telling them to their faces they don't belong where they are. Who can honestly say they wouldn't be offended if someone went up to them at work and told them they aren't a (insert occupation)

If their self esteem is that low that a comment from some random fan about how they aren't a halfback is going to destroy their confidence, then perhaps they need to choose a different line of work. Especially since coaches are not afraid to say such things themselves, such as one particular coach telling an aspiring NRL player that he will never be an NRL player.

I'm sure a lot of people will get offended, but when you aren't doing the job you're paid to do the way you're expected to, then you're going to be called out on it whether it's by some random person or your employer.

 

[tommy]

If their self esteem is that low that a comment from some random fan about how they aren't a halfback is going to destroy their confidence, then perhaps they need to choose a different line of work. Especially since coaches are not afraid to say such things themselves, such as one particular coach telling an aspiring NRL player that he will never be an NRL player.

I'm sure a lot of people will get offended, but when you aren't doing the job you're paid to do the way you're expected to, then you're going to be called out on it whether it's by some random person or your employer.

No not destroy it but you did say you will never forget the look he gave you.It obviously affected him in some way, however small. He probably cops enough from opposition fans and the media. To hear it from a Broncs fan is probably worse to him.

 

[Porthoz]

Kodi isn't a halfback imo. Doesn't make him trash or unworthy of the Broncos jumper. Those are 2 different things, which I hope and believe Seibold does understand.

 

[GCBRONCO]

Kodi isn't a halfback imo. Doesn't make him trash or unworthy of the Broncos jumper. Those are 2 different things, which I hope and believe Seibold does understand.

Nod for me it's trying to manufacture him into something he isn't or most likely won't be, much like Berrigan was never a realistic option at halfback, better in roles where he could focus on his outstanding running game like hooker, centre or 5/8th. Doesn't mean I hate the guy, sure as hell still want him to succeed and when he pulls that jersey on he has my full support. Prove me wrong, I sure as hell would love to be wrong!

 

[Porthoz]

I still think his best position is Fullback.

 

[Alec]

Yeah, I feel like in terms of attack, fullback would be Kodi's best position. Not much thinking other than finishing off by summing up 3 on 3s or 3 on 2s or whatever, and more space to show his running game and suck in defenders too.