NEWS Wayne Bennett declares: 'I will stick with Kodi at half'

[Broncs_Fan]

The best thing about Hunt leaving is that fans wont be able to scapegoat him anymore. They'll hail Kodi as the messiah and then crucify him when he doesn't deliver as he's not a halfback but a running utility/hooker.

 

[Super Freak]

They aren't if they still being used to support an argument that Ben Hunt didn't deliver in big games.

In fairness, it was the most important of them all and he did contribute to the loss in a big way so it’s understandable people would solely blame him. I wouldn’t put it all on him, though. I would blame Oates more than Hunt.

But saying that, Hunt delivered in big games more than he didn’t.

 

[GCBRONCO]

A few thoughts here

1. Ben Hunt has moved on and for our own sake so should we. I don't see the need to over complicate the situation, those wanting him gone got their wish, I'm a fan and though I'm disappointed to see him leave there is also the opportunity for him to start afresh at a new club. The end.

2. Kodi gets his opportunity and for 2018 that is fair enough, I have been critical in areas in his game that I feel he needs to develop/show improvement in but I still want him to succeed regardless and I will give him the time to do so. I rate him as a player I just don't necessarily think he is the halfback we are looking for, I see him more in the style of Shaun Berrigan(great individual player, quality running game but not a real noted ball player or kicking game. Ideal player to be alongside someone who can handle the day to day duties). Potential to be a quality impact utility player off the bench and if required can make the step up to fill in gaps in the startup lineup if injuries required, even if he can't provide a strong enough case to be our halfback full time, doesn't mean there isn't room for him there in the side. I don't expect miracles, I just want to see positive improvements in those areas I have been critical of, bring that to the table alongside what he is good at and we have something to work with.

3. It's time for Milford to step up, his the senior halves combo player, certainly getting paid the salary of one, Kodi is young and inexperienced so it's important for Milford to do so. His running game is his best asset(I certainly hope his weight concerns are an exaggeration, I'm willing to give him some slack considering he was carrying a shoulder injury for last season), but we need to see him more vocal on the field, letting them know where he wants them to be particularly attacking the opposition line, that will go along way to addressing the issues we had when the momentum in their attacking half weakened. We also need a kicking game of substance to work with, hopefully we see an improvement there. To be a real genuine threat to the competition you need to have more in your kit then a running game, the real tough games it becomes an arm-wrestle, teams like the Storm or Cowboys won't give you the same freedom of attack that lesser sides will, controlling territory becomes even more critical in situations like this and you don't just do that with your defence.

 

[Gaz]

Hunt is a great defender for his size - something Nik has to aspire towards.

 

[Lockysillegitimatechild]

It's funny when people blame Hunt for the Grand Final loss. But if you watch the last two minutes it's Milford who is stripped of the ball on half way on the 4th tackle with only 1 minute to go in the match. If we complete that set and get a kick away then we 95% win that game.

I don't blame hunt for the gf because of that one moment. He went missing the entire game then the only things he did he stuffed up. It was a team effort to lose a gf like that but paint it however you want, hunt buckles under pressure at this club. I hope it changes for him at the dragons because he was a good player and good club man with awesome talent, but if it hasn't yet (around 200 first grade games with about 100 at halfback at the biggest club in Australia constantly playing in front of 35,000+ crowds) I doubt it ever will.

The reason people don't blame Milford is he was MOtM prior to that minute. Even in that bad moment he did something hunt didn't look like doing due to the pressure (make a line break).

Hunt will play good against us in round 1 then the "I told you all"s will be coming thick and fast..... but until he delivers special moments for his team in high pressure situations, he isn't a million dollar player and I am glad the broncos didn't pay it. Milford has done this in more games for Brisbane in half the sample size and he thrived in the gf.

 

[Alec]

I'm more concerned about Milford than Nikorima. We've thrown a huge amount of money at him, he is the one that really needs to improve.

 

[Porthoz]

3. It's time for Milford to step up, his the senior halves combo player, certainly getting paid the salary of one, Kodi is young and inexperienced so it's important for Milford to do so.

Kodi is older than Milford... just saying.

 

[GCBRONCO]

Kodi is older than Milford... just saying.

Older yes(we are talking days, not years here.....), more experienced and earning the big salary where you should have higher expectations from? No. I know who I expect more from.

 

[Porthoz]

Older yes(we are talking days, not years here.....), more experienced and earning the big salary where you should have higher expectations from? No. I know who I expect more from.

That's not the point really, is it?
Of course people expect more from Milford, because he is the more talented player, and obviously the most expensive, but the Kodi's young and inexperienced line doesn't fly, much less the expectation for Milford to perform the role he has never excelled at.

Milford is our x-factor, a player we should rely on to do extraordinary things on the field and use his strengths, not bog him down with expectations of becoming our organiser and team leader.
It's like expecting a Sniper or Delta Force field specialist to also be the general in an army.

P.S. I also don't think it's something to be asked of Kodi, but we don't have anyone else... yet, and that's only on one person.

 

[Thelmus]

I think Milford will need to justify his salary this year. He is now the number 1 playmaker in the team, with an expectation to perform as such.
He doesn't need to break the line every game or score match winning tries. He just needs to play his best football consistently, perform the tasks assigned to him, be that drawing defenders or kicking in general Play, making tackles expected or making overlaps in attack.
If he does that, with Kodi doing his, and our forwards living up to their promise we will do well.

 

[Sproj]

The Broncs really have a chance here to try and revolutionize the game somewhat. They do not have a traditional halved pairing, so maybe just maybe the coach might have something up his sleeve here and play in a non-traditional way in attack. Defense is always the same though, it is about attitude.

 

[GCBRONCO]

That's not the point really, is it?
Of course people expect more from Milford, because he is the more talented player, and obviously the most expensive, but the Kodi's young and inexperienced line doesn't fly, much less the expectation for Milford to perform the role he has never excelled at.

Milford is our x-factor, a player we should rely on to do extraordinary things on the field and use his strengths, not bog him down with expectations of becoming our organiser and team leader.
It's like expecting a Sniper or Delta Force field specialist to also be the general in an army.

P.S. I also don't think it's something to be asked of Kodi, but we don't have anyone else... yet, and that's only on one person.

Kodi has played about half as many first grade games as milford, only one of those seasons you could argue he had any substantial time in a position, my expectations on him are to focus on gaining experience, improving as a player overtime. To expect him to carry the bulk of the playmaking responsibilities over the more experienced playmaker is unrealistic at present, if he cements himself for 2019, then expectations will change.

As for Milford being our x-factor player and we shouldn't expect anymore from him to develop such skills because it might effect his x-factor I find that to be a cop out. So was Langer(who BTW Bennett had to push to add more traits to his halfback resume, not relying so heavily on x factor). So was Lockyer(who like O'Neill had superior kicking and playmaking skills at fullback despite not even being primary playmakers from there 2000 the exception for Lockyer). Even Walters had a quality underrated running game and could be a match winner, but they all possessed, quality, reliable kicking and playmaking skills required to win the critical matches. The only 5/8th or halfback in one of our premiership teams that didn't possess those playmaking traits would be Ben Ikin, but even then we still had the luxury of Walters and Lockyer to handle it for him. We don't have the luxury of expecting just one player to handle the responsibilities in the present situation, lumping that on Kodi while giving Milford a free pass doesn't cut it if we seriously want to be a competition threat. 3 seasons in a starting position with the club isn't unrealistic to want to see him grow in other areas.

 

[Alec]

Neither Kodi or Milf are really suited to an organising game at the moment, but if Milford really does prefer to get his hands on the ball as much as possible, he might as well be the one to learn to. I wanted him to stick being the way he was in 2015, but it's probably unlikely to happen now.

 

[Gaz]

Neither Kodi or Milf are really suited to an organising game at the moment, but if Milford really does prefer to get his hands on the ball as much as possible, he might as well be the one to learn to. I wanted him to stick being the way he was in 2015, but it's probably unlikely to happen now.

I know it’s irrelevant, but I sometimes wonder if Stuart would still be playing him at fullback at he not left Canberra.

 

[Taylor1921]

It's funny when people blame Hunt for the Grand Final loss. But if you watch the last two minutes it's Milford who is stripped of the ball on half way on the 4th tackle with only 1 minute to go in the match. If we complete that set and get a kick away then we 95% win that game.

Don't bring that game up ever again. Please don't

 

[BroncsFan]

I know it’s irrelevant, but I sometimes wonder if Stuart would still be playing him at fullback at he not left Canberra.

Difficult to answer... Ricky's prototypical fullback is wighton an althetic, robust back who he then tries to teach ball playing.

I think in Milf's last year at Canberra Ricky was tinkering with him at 6 so there's every chance he and sezer could've been their halves by now

 

[Porthoz]

Kodi has played about half as many first grade games as milford, only one of those seasons you could argue he had any substantial time in a position, my expectations on him are to focus on gaining experience, improving as a player overtime. To expect him to carry the bulk of the playmaking responsibilities over the more experienced playmaker is unrealistic at present, if he cements himself for 2019, then expectations will change.

As for Milford being our x-factor player and we shouldn't expect anymore from him to develop such skills because it might effect his x-factor I find that to be a cop out. So was Langer(who BTW Bennett had to push to add more traits to his halfback resume, not relying so heavily on x factor). So was Lockyer(who like O'Neill had superior kicking and playmaking skills at fullback despite not even being primary playmakers from there 2000 the exception for Lockyer). Even Walters had a quality underrated running game and could be a match winner, but they all possessed, quality, reliable kicking and playmaking skills required to win the critical matches. The only 5/8th or halfback in one of our premiership teams that didn't possess those playmaking traits would be Ben Ikin, but even then we still had the luxury of Walters and Lockyer to handle it for him. We don't have the luxury of expecting just one player to handle the responsibilities in the present situation, lumping that on Kodi while giving Milford a free pass doesn't cut it if we seriously want to be a competition threat. 3 seasons in a starting position with the club isn't unrealistic to want to see him grow in other areas.

Way to misquote me. I never said I don't expect Milford to grow/develop his skills, which would be silly, because that should be the expectation on any player. That is totally different from expecting him to become the team's tactician and leader, something not even Locky ever was.

Locky was a talented freak, but only became the leader, the captain, the inspiration, in the second half of his career, after 7 years at Fullback and about 2 years as Five-eight (2006 was his coming of age).
And even then, he always left the bulk of the organisation to his halfback, generally a player whom complemented Locky's skills (Perry, Wallace) and took the brunt of the "boring play-making duties", allowing Darren to inject himself when he chose to.
On top of that, he had another string to his bow that Milford doesn't... an exquisite kicking game.

We've been spoiled in our past with our halves. Not only did we generally have at least one of, if not the best in the business, we had great halves partnerships which complemented each other. Would Alfie or even Locky have delivered such a bounty in magical moments without Walters or Perry/Wallace respectively next to them? I'm not so sure!

As talented as Milford is, he needs a partner type like Locky and Langer had. The same really goes for Kodi.
Unfortunately, we don't have such a player, so we have to make due with two very talented and similarly skilled players.
You can try to share the organisational duties between them, which probably will be in detriment of both, or you can sacrifice one to the "minor role". Who do you think it should be?

 

[GCBRONCO]

Porthoz looking back I think I did misquote you and for that I apologise.

In an ideal situation I agree Milford should remain the x factor player, in fact I would prefer the club very much so continue to look for options for a playmaker that could fit the bill we need, we seriously need someone who can at the very least provide us a decent kicking game and direct the troops around, but if people are talking about two running halves then some compromise needs to be given for both involved. Perhaps your right, perhaps Milford should remain the x factor player primarily, but if he wants to really step up IMO he still needs to demonstrate a reliable(not saying outstanding) kicking game and a decent ability to direct the troops, that isn't asking a lot.