Breakdown in ‘execution’: Kodi Nikorima on Broncos’ shocking finish

The total breakdown of what should be a vital tactic in the modern NRL team’s arsenal proved costly as it cast Brisbane to a 1-4 start to the year. WATCH THE SHAMBOLIC SET

Anthony Milford of the Broncos reacts following the Round 5 NRL match between the Brisbane Broncos and the Wests Tigers at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Thursday, April 11, 2019. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

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A crestfallen Kodi Nikorima has tried to explain what went wrong with the Broncos’ field-goal shot that never was in their costly loss to Wests Tigers.

Panic set in as the Broncos playmakers failed to run a methodical set-up for a field goal shot at 16-all at Suncorp Stadium, with passes twice hitting the ground in the set terminated by Anthony Milford’s inability to get a shot away.

That total breakdown of what should be a vital tactic in the modern NRL team’s arsenal cast Brisbane to a 1-4 start to the year when the Tigers scored with less than two minutes left for a 22-16 triumph, with Michael Chee Kam bursting through a disorganised group of four Broncos to score.

Nikorima said there had been a breakdown in “execution” in the set following a Tigers error, even though dummy-half Andrew McCullough put his hand up on two plays looking for a receiver.

“We didn’t get set up into position and there was a late call,’’ Nikorima said.

WATCH THE SHAMBOLIC SET IN THE VIDEO PLAYER ABOVE

Anthony Milford reacts following the Broncos’ loss to Wests Tigers at Suncorp Stadium. Picture: AAP

“I wouldn’t say communication (was at fault). I’d say execution. We called the set early on and for two balls to go to ground it was more of an execution thing.

“Milford was rushed by (Robbie) Farah (on the last tackle), who got good line speed. It wasn’t to be.

“We have to be better defending that because the next set they rolled down (and also failed to get a field goal shot away). We got line speed and (Luke) Brooks doesn’t kick the field goal and hits Chee Kam. He skipped across field and there’s the game (lost).’’

The Broncos halves and fullback Darius Boyd, who slipped as Chee Kam raced towards for the fateful try, were again targets for criticism on social media, and coach Anthony Seibold said he was not sure if there had been “other voices calling the shots in that particular set’’.

“That’s not a combination thing. That’s Milf, he’s our organiser. He (is there) to get the ball,’’ Seibold said.

“We weren’t happy about that scrum set to go down and ice the game, but that’s a fairly painful lesson obviously. They really played for each other and the other stuff, the execution, we’ll fix up.’’

The Broncos have slumped to a 1-4 start to the 2019 NRL campaign. Picture: AAP

Broncos teenager Payne Haas’s vastly impressive first premiership game of the season, in which he ran for 171m and made 41 tackles, also saw him miss a grasping tackle on Chee Kam after he and Jack Bird had momentarily stood off Chee Kam.

Milford accelerated to try and tackle Chee Kam from behind but couldn’t bring him down quickly enough.

“He’s disappointed missing the tackle at the end, but that’s footy,’’ Seibold said of Haas.

“He’s an outstanding young player. For a 19-year-old who played about 60 minutes and that’s the first game he started, I thought he was very good.’’

Coach Anthony Seibold says the Broncos have learned a painful lesson. Picture: AAP

The Broncos missed 37 tackles, still a high count but 19 fewer than they were guilty of in their 36-4 caning by the Sydney Roosters a week earlier which had ex-Broncos queuing up in the media to criticise the players and the culture in the team.

“There was a whole heap of crap about culture and that sort of s … during the week so I was really proud of the guys,’’ Seibold said.

“Two of the three guys rang and apologised, saying they didn’t say it in that context. I don’t’ really care to be frank. It didn’t have any impact on the game. We talk about trials on social media and mental health and the amount of crap some of the people have to cop through the week … it’s an issue if they read it in the papers, but we don’t talk about it.’’