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Johnathan Thurston says Brisbane needs
Anthony Milford to turn up in NRL finals
Anthony Milford to turn up in NRL finals
Peter Badel,
The Courier-Mail
September 9, 2019 7:00pm
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NEWS JT pinpoints the player to spark Broncos' dreams
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Peter Badel,
The Courier-Mail
September 9, 2019 7:00pm
rnabokov
State of Origin Captain
- Mar 5, 2008
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Johnathan Thurston says Brisbane needs
Anthony Milford to turn up in NRL finals
Peter Badel,
The Courier-Mail
September 9, 2019 7:00pm
cannon fodder
Queensland champion Johnathan Thurston has turned up the heat on Brisbane’s playmaking spine and challenged $1 million man Anthony Milford to prove the Broncos aren’t finals cannon fodder. Halfback icon Thurston, Brisbane’s nemesis in the 2015 grand final, says Milford, Darius Boyd and Jake Turpin hold the key to engineering a Broncos boilover in Sunday’s elimination final against Eels at Bankwest Stadium.
If Milford performs, he can make the difference. Photo: Brett Hemmings/Getty Images
makeshift halves pairing
The Broncos confront fifth-placed Parramatta as rank outsiders, having limped into the finals in eighth spot with a losing record (11-12-1) as the only team in the playoffs with a negative points differential (-57). Brisbane’s scrumbase has been a problem area all season and the Broncos are banking on an inexperienced and makeshift halves pairing in Boyd and Turpin to spearhead an unlikely premiership charge.
daunting test
With Boyd and Turpin still searching for playmaking fluency, Thurston says Milford is the X-factor at fullback and believes he is Brisbane’s great white hope in his backfield duel with Parramatta skipper Clint Gutherson. “‘Milf’ is a game breaker and he has to get involved on every play this week,” said Thurston, whose extra-time field goal in the 2015 decider broke Brisbane’s hearts and clinched the Cowboys’ maiden title.“Defences are so strong now, so if Milford can get the ball in some open play from second-phase football, he can be a threat. “Milf’s greatest asset is his running game, so if his forwards can get over the advantage line and get the defence retreating, that’s when is he at his best.” History shows premiership teams invariably feature great halfbacks and the Boyd-Turpin alliance faces a daunting test at a Bankwest Fortress where Parramatta have won eight of 10 games.
A lack of experience could work against the Broncos. Photo: AAP Image/Dan Peled
classy game-manager
While the Eels possess a classy game-manager in Mitchell Moses, who leads the NRL for try assists, Brisbane’s No.7 rival, Turpin, is a traditional hooker who will be making his finals debut. Brisbane’s forwards have been outstanding over the past three months but Thurston says their halves have to capitalise on the go-forward of Payne Haas, Matt Lodge and David Fifita.
stand up
“Their spine needs to stand up,” the former Maroons ace said. “Their forward pack has been doing the job, we know what kids like Payne Haas and David Fifita can do, but if they lay the platform against Parra, their playmakers need to make the most of the opportunities that will be presented to them. “Turpin and ‘Macca’ (Andrew McCullough) will get the boys around the park, but it’s up to Darius and Milf to link with their outside backs. We know ‘Darbs’ is good in three-on-two situations, but Milf needs to hang around the ball a bit more and be a threat in broken play.”
Does Darius Boyd have the edge needed for finals footy? Photo: Brett Hemmings/Getty Images
no one gave us a chance
Boyd, who moved to five-eighth in June after 302 NRL games as a fullback or winger, is confident he and Turpin can hold their own in the sudden-death arena. “Since myself and ‘Turps’ came together in the halves, our last 10 weeks have been pretty successful, it’s what has got us to the finals,” he said. “After the start we had, no one gave us a chance to make the finals, so the players and coaching staff have done a great job to fight back.”
"“Their spine needs to stand up,” the former Maroons ace said."
Trouble is, spaghetti can't stand up
NSW stables
NRL Player
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Wow, this is a new perspective, our spine must perform. They must be experts.
lynx000
State of Origin Rep
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I would prefer Cooper Cronk to be honest.
Waynesaurus
NRL Captain
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Milford needs to go back to the halves, we have lost too much in attack and in our kicking with Boyd and Turpin there.
I think Turpin either has to go to 9 or back to the bench, grudgingly that leaves Boyd at 5/8 and we find some one to play at fullback, if that means giving Isaako a go then so be it.
Isaako's defense on the wing has been ordinary, maybe fullback is his spot.
I'll take anything except Turpin and Boyd in the halves and I don't think having Milford playing the multi roles is working, we need the ability to score more points and I think Milf needs to get his hands on the ball more often for us to to do that.
I think Turpin either has to go to 9 or back to the bench, grudgingly that leaves Boyd at 5/8 and we find some one to play at fullback, if that means giving Isaako a go then so be it.
Isaako's defense on the wing has been ordinary, maybe fullback is his spot.
I'll take anything except Turpin and Boyd in the halves and I don't think having Milford playing the multi roles is working, we need the ability to score more points and I think Milf needs to get his hands on the ball more often for us to to do that.
jarro65
State of Origin Rep
- Jun 26, 2008
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Yep , at least we have a play that gets us points more often than not. Also gives us some guidance in defense at the back. As bad as boyd has been he can still be better at 1 than 6, and milf hasn't really been killing it at 1.
- Mar 26, 2008
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Milf at 1 is just a frustration. No doubt he is trying to double up a lot of the time to compensate for not having a 5/8 but he has lost a leg.
Watching him run is like having one of those dreams that never get to the end.
You know, like teeing up the golf ball and just before you hit it something goes wrong and you have to start again, over and over and over.
He runs to the defensive and jumps in the air and gets tackled, especially off a kick return. It is beyond frustrating waiting for him to show that old step and speed off the mark.
Watching him run is like having one of those dreams that never get to the end.
You know, like teeing up the golf ball and just before you hit it something goes wrong and you have to start again, over and over and over.
He runs to the defensive and jumps in the air and gets tackled, especially off a kick return. It is beyond frustrating waiting for him to show that old step and speed off the mark.
- Oct 28, 2013
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Seibold won’t move Milf, could cost him his career.
lynx000
State of Origin Rep
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Zzzzzzzzzzzz
- Oct 28, 2013
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Lol, four others make a comment but I get this treatment.
- Jan 8, 2018
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Why don't you **** off to the tab then instead of spreading your negative shit on here? Do you work for Sportsbet or something, I mean you've posted this same shit in other threads too.
Why would you even mention the name Sportsbet? You probably work for them negative Nancy
- Jun 12, 2013
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I expect an almost identical article tomorrow..."written" by Billy Slater and worded slightly differently.
NSW stables
NRL Player
- May 3, 2019
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I dont see seibold switching them back again, but i do not know why they dont use the "boyd second man sweep play" as a set play.
It is not difficult to organise.
We just appear to have no clue out on the field.
