Milford stays as Bennett slams ‘ ill- informed’ critics
WAYNE Bennett has declared he will not sack Anthony Milford as Brisbane’s five- eighth as the Broncos coach slammed “ill- informed” critics of the club’s playmaking structures.
On the eve of tonight’s clash against the Knights in Newcastle, Bennett launched a passionate defence of the under- fire Milford and said skipper Darius Boyd would not be moved from fullback.
Broncos legend Wally Lewis has called for Bennett to deploy Milford at fullback to bring some fluency to a Brisbane attack that has scored just eight tries in four games.
But a defiant Bennett yesterday hit back, insisting Milford and halves partner Kodi Nikorima would remain at the Broncos’ scrumbase.
“There will be no change with those two players,” Bennett said.
“Anthony has always been a natural ‘ six’ ( five- eighth).
“Canberra ( his former club) put him at fullback when he was 18 playing NRL because they didn’t think he could hold himself in the defensive line.
“But towards the end he came into the frontline and played five- eighth.
“That’s his position. That’s where he is playing at the Broncos.”
Boyd has struggled through the opening month with a niggling hamstring injury, but Bennett said calls to move his skipper into the frontline at five- eighth were nonsensical.
“That is the ill- informed talking,” he said. “If you … watch Darius, the one thing he can’t play is six.”
Former Broncos attack coach Kevin Walters, who resigned last Wednesday, admitted Brisbane’s offence had been “off”.
Speaking just hours before he quit as Bennett’s assistant, Walters urged Milford to spark the Broncos backline into action against the Knights.
“I think a bit of cohesion is missing,” he said. “I believe they have the talent.”