Brisbane coach Anthony Seibold has defended his under-pressure halves following Friday’s 36-4 hammering by Sydney Roosters.
The much-maligned pairing of Anthony Milford and Kodi Nikorima were savaged by NRL greats Andrew Johns and Johnathan Thurston during the seven-tries-to-one bloodbath at the SCG, described as disorganised and lacking direction.
Although the Roosters forwards did blow their opponents off the park – running for 1796m metres to the Broncos’ 1204 – Seibold’s side weren’t without their chances.
They enjoyed only four fewer (26-22) play the balls inside their opposition red zone but failed to convert it on the scoreboard.
“They look very disorganised, it looks like they’ve got no structure, they don’t know where they’re going,” Thurston said on the Nine Network broadcast.
“The halves need to take control and get them to a spot where they can attack from.”
Johns added: “It looks like the players have no idea what’s going on out there, that’s the job of your halves.”
But Seibold said Milford and Nikorima were playing off the back-foot but simply weren’t given a chance to put their stamp on the game.
“Your halves are your quarterbacks so they’re going to come under scrutiny,” Seibold said.
“Essentially, the Roosters ran harder than us and they defended more aggressively than us.
“I thought the Roosters forward pack, missing (Jared Waerea-Hargreaves), did the job on our forward pack.
“When we’re not building pressure and we’re going backwards, then your halves aren’t going to be in a position to capitalise or score points.”
The Broncos fell to 1-3 and scrutiny on Seibold and his young side will ramp up heading into next week’s clash with the Wests Tigers.
Considered title contenders before the season kick-off and touted as possessing the best young pack in the competition, they were thoroughly outclassed by the premiers.
Seibold said they couldn’t use their youth and inexperience as an excuse and they needed to step up regardless of age.
“Of course not mate, no way in the world, it doesn’t matter how many young blokes you have in the team,” Seibold said
“If you’re picked in the NRL, you’ve got to do your job.
“Tonight we were outplayed, there’s no doubt about it. It doesn’t matter how many young blokes you have.
“I could sit here and say we’ve got five players 21-or-younger and they’re learning and whatever else.
“At the end of the day they didn’t get their jobs done.”
Seibold confirmed Payne Haas would return against the Tigers after serving a four-game suspension.
Succhi
Roar Rookie
For me, the whole Bronco spine is missing. McCullough is slow, Milford goes missing, Nikorima looks nervous and Boyd looks uninterested. Seibold needs to make some changes.
M20
Guest
Milfords kicking is very poor. Doesn't matter if you kick a couple hundred metres a game if it goes straight down the throat of the opposition with no pressure or out for a seven tackle set. He's passing game seems nonexistent most of the time as well. Short pass here and there or just chucking it wide cause he gets caught standing still
Dogs Boddy
Roar Rookie
Smart
The Barry
Roar Guru
Plus there was one of those against the dragons and the one on Bromwich where he refuses to make the tackle.
The Barry
Roar Guru
They definitely shouldn’t be getting theblame for the loss. But they’re still accountable for the disjointed Broncos attack. Broncos had a lot of ball in the second half but still got oustcored 14-4. How many times did they throw the ball one side, nothing doing and then hurl it back the other way? The Broncos looked rudderless and directionless in attack. If the lack of structure and shape is not the halves fault then it’s Seibold’s. Having said that lovely little dummy and short ball from Nikorima for the try.
Nat
Roar Guru
Yeah, I'm not specifically referring to last night either. I haven't seen anyone marshall the forwards this year or last. They got a good win over NQ but by-rights St George should've put as many (or at least restricted us) as Storm and Roosters did. In no way am I putting any of the losses on them but I haven't seen an improvement in their direction they need to be laying down. In total, it is not one person. Gillett is about the only one who hasn't faulted in some way that I can think of. The rest, you could find multiple instances across a few weeks. Respecting the team will get a better attitude as the weeks progress but I'm struggling to defend #7 anymore as it doesn't appear to be improving.
Emcie
Roar Guru
I've always thought Kodi was better off the bench, and I wouldn't mind a DCE in the side, but I'm not sure a different halfs pairing changes much last night. Isaako deserves a lot (and I mean a lot) more criticism then either of the halves do for the last two weeks performances, as do a few others. I just think the halves are copping a disproportionate amount of blame which is papering over other issues.
Rellum
Roar Guru
It doesn't matter to me if Boyd is injured or just not up to tackling but last night he just flat out avoided tackling on at least two tries. You can't play like that and keep your job. I am not concerned about who is captain. Gillett or McCullough are the most obvious options. The whole team needs work clearly, the halves included. Seibold can't spend entire seasons bringing in a new style of play, which to me so far looks exactly like all the other styles of play. This is the Broncos, you are expected to be in the hunt for the title from the start.
Emcie
Roar Guru
As far as I know he's primarily played centre and second row. I'd say Isaako would be next in line for fullback (as long as he cleans up the silly errors of the last couple games). The problem with dropping Boyd is just how much experience the team has already lost, the problem with keeping him is that he seems to be under a constant injury cloud. Let's be honest, he's basicly captain by default at this point, but that's not his fault, its just the position the Broncos find themselves in. As far as the halves go, I've always thought that Nikorima brought more impact off the bench but at them moment I think there are bigger concerns then the halves. The forwards have needed work for years, and after finally shoring up that area we lose practically all experience in the pack over the offseason. The halves could definately be improved, I just don't think they're the greatest priority at the moment
Flexis
Roar Rookie
Always been a big Boyd fan. But fancy having a go at your team mates for missing a tackle instead of attempting to tackle the player yourself. That’s not the actions of a leader.
Rellum
Roar Guru
I only ever saw Staggs play centre in the QRL. Some others on here would know more.
BA Sports
Roar Guru
No you actually have to touch a turnstile to go through it. Boyd doesn't lay a finger on them. Boyd protects his stats, by letting them go through untouched (so no missed tackle).
BA Sports
Roar Guru
It was a random question, but as someone on here who watches a lot of QLD football, I was just curious if Staggs had the ability to play fullback? I agree with you to a point about the halves when a team is getting driven back, but as JT says, they lack direction which is what the halves should be organising. I think they are also lacking leadership. From my arm chair, a million miles from the ground, Boyd looks like he has switched off. He may not be a 'lead with words' captain, but for a player of 300 games to be so disinterested and so unwilling to put his body on the line - it is a big part of the problem. There is a young team there looking for someone who will lead the way and that they can follow, and Boyd isn't it. I don't really know who is? I know Seibold couldn't drop Boyd, but if Boyd wasn't 100% fit (Melbourne Demons circa 2009 style), is Staggs a potential fullback? I don't know his background. I know Isaako is an option, but even he looks like a guy with no confidence at the moment and isn't taking it up as hard as he can. I think Bird's fullback days are behind him - Flannagan juiced him up and I think he is a centre now and they have invested so much time into the Milf/Niko combo that I think they have to persist with Milf at 5/8.
The Prize_Man
Roar Pro
Yes our halves can’t kick and yes they can’t control a game very well, because of this rarely will we overcome a forwards deficit and last night was a huge deficit in the middle. For mine the problem with last night was all effort, especially in the first half. We were inconsistent last year but not in a single game did I doubt our effort. Worrying signs. Haven’t heard many people talk about it but we are missing Moose big time. A lot of people where happy to see him go but the things we were lacking last night(effort,intensity,consistency) are exactly what he brings. Giving up an experienced international in favour of a pack of 20yr olds seemed like madness at the time and last night we needed someone to follow and take the fight to them that used be moose, now who is it? Last night it was no one.
Nat
Roar Guru
I wish I could be as forgiving. Not at all is the loss on their shoulders and they (team) did bomb 4 tries but their attack has looked directionless. The only play is the wide ball to Milf on the 4th but they are not making an impact up the middle to draw players in and create space out wide. I've been their advocate for a while but little is changing and Kodi is not bossing as he should. Plus, I hate the idea of carrying a center on the bench. They have a number of very good, controlling halves in ISP, time to bring one up (I like Dearden but he's young), Kodi to the bench as a reserve for Macca.
Emcie
Roar Guru
Milford Kicked for over 500m. Not sure kicks help much if the opposition can just run through the middle to be fair
Emcie
Roar Guru
Was that meant to be a reply to me?
Rellum
Roar Guru
Isaako is a fullback, Bird has been as well has he not? I guess Milf is the other option. We basically cleared the decks on the outside backs. In the top squad all that is left is Shibasaki, Kennar(winger), Perese(Winger).
Mango Man
Guest
They cop too much of the blame but they are in such important positions that they are expected to do something (anything) to grab some control when you're being dominated. Even a few big kicks downfield to push the other team back a few times would help but the Broncs don't seem to have that weapon anywhere on the park. I remember so many times when the Broncs would defend set after set and then Locky would boot it to the opposite try line and lead the chase to make the opposition start their tackles from their own quarter. Most people would put those kinds of responsibilities on the halves and hooker.
BA Sports
Roar Guru
Can Staggs play fullback? I don't recall seeing a great deal of him coming through, so I don't know if that is a position he has experience in. Running the ball wouldn't be a problem, but he may or may not have experience organising defensive lines