Selection dilemma: Anthony Seibold facing crucial Broncos call

Broncos coach Anthony Seibold has been dealt a welcome selection headache this week, with pressure on current Brisbane playmakers Jake Turpin and Darius Boyd.

Coach Anthony Seibold faces a crucial call for the Broncos. Picture: AAP

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Broncos coach Anthony Seibold faces a welcome selection headache this week when playmaking duo Tom Dearden and Sean O’Sullivan come back into the fray.

The two halves have impressed in their return from injury in the Intrust Super Cup and could be pitchforked back into Broncos colours against Penrith at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night as Brisbane battle to keep their NRL finals dreams alive.

Dynamo utility Jake Turpin has been a standout in the Broncos No.7 jersey, scoring two tries since being shifted to the famed playmaking role, including a matchwinner against the Cowboys on Thursday night.

But he faces the possibility of being shifted back to hooker as Seibold aims to fix a “frantic” attacking performance by the Broncos halves against the Cowboys.

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Coach Anthony Seibold faces a crucial call for the Broncos. Picture: AAP

Turpin and five-eighth Darius Boyd came under fire for their halves performance, with rugby league Immortal Andrew Johns questioning their direction and cohesion during his Channel 9 commentary in Townsville.

Boyd finished Thursday night’s game with one run for two metres and two missed tackles as he continues to find his feet in the five-eighth position.

Seibold conceded after their 18-14 win over the Cowboys that their attacking shapes had been “frantic”.

“Darius and Turps are both learning the role,” Seibold said.

“To be fair to them, as a halves pairing, they’ve only lost one game out of their past six.”

Tom Dearden is back in the frame for the Broncos. Picture: AAP

Dearden is likely to be fit for selection this weekend after recovering from a minor ankle injury in his return to rugby league last weekend.

O’Sullivan also made an impressive return from a hamstring injury for Norths Devils on Saturday night, scoring a try and controlling the match from the outset.

Devils coach Rohan Smith said O’Sullivan had been impressive in his side’s 62-14 win over Northern Pride.

“He scored an early try for us but he really controlled the match well,” Smith said.

“He had a calm head and his running game was pretty good which created opportunities for the other players.”

Sean O'Sullivan is also in the selection frame. Picture: AAP

Former Brisbane playmaking legend Darren Lockyer, however, said it could be a gamble to throw Dearden into the fray at this point in the season.

“Given his two-month absence from the NRL, it might be a risk to recall 18-year-old Dearden at such a critical stage of the season,” Lockyer said.

Veteran backrower Matt Gillett is also hoping to make his return this weekend after missing the past month with niggling injuries.

Gillett was ruled out of Thursday’s game with a back complaint while former Kiwi international Alex Glenn was a late scratching due to a knee injury he copped during training.