Anthony Seibold to keep faith in Anthony Milford and Kodi Nikorima

With the heat intensifying on Anthony Milford and Kodi Nikorima, Broncos coach Anthony Seibold is putting his trust in his besieged halves to finally execute a game plan.

How long has this Nikorima-Milford debate been going on now? Image: AAP Image/Dave Hunt

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Anthony Seibold will not bow to public pressure with the Brisbane coach declaring he will keep faith in besieged halves Anthony Milford and Kodi Nikorima to haul the Broncos out of an early-season form slump.

A defiant Seibold says axing Milford and Nikorima is not the solution to curing Brisbane’s perceived playmaking ills ahead of Sunday’s crucial Round 6 away clash against the in-form Raiders at GIO Stadium.

NRL playmaking legends Andrew Johns and Johnathan Thurston have savaged Brisbane’s first-choice halves, claiming Milford and Nikorima cannot execute a game plan to make the Broncos a title contender.

But Seibold will resist the temptation to swing the axe and says he is backing the Milford-Nikorima alliance to overturn a dismal 1-4 start — starting on Sunday against the Green Machine.

How long has this Nikorima-Milford debate been going on now? Image: AAP Image/Dave Hunt

“I have faith in ‘Milly’ and Kodi to get the job done,” Seibold said.

“I am confident we will get them to where they need be and where they can be in their careers.

“As a team, we’re not a million miles away (from winning games).

“I’m loathe to talk too much about changes because the fact is I’m backing Milly and Kodi.”

Seibold is mindful Nikorima, who turned 25 a fortnight ago, and Milford, three months younger, are no longer NRL playmaking rookies.

The duo have amassed a combined 232 first-grade games, adding experience to a combination first forged as 14-year-olds playing in Queensland junior representative teams.

Is it time for new blood in Sean O'Sullivan? Image: AAP Image/Darren England

There is a push for Brisbane to blood Roosters recruit Sean O’Sullivan and 18-year-old halfback sensation Tom Dearden, but Seibold believes the Broncos’ more vexing problem lies in the forward pack.

“I like what my halves are doing. Milly and Kodi can’t be blamed for our record at the moment,” he said.

“They are our best options.

“We got a lot right against the Tigers last week. We could have been up 14-0 if Jack Bird catches that ball over the tryline and from there, we would have been hard to run down.

“The Roosters were far too good for us (a 36-4 thrashing in Round 4), they gave us a lesson and I accept that, but I’m sticking with Kodi and Milford.

“They are still our best pairing in my eyes.”

The Broncos completed their captain’s run on Saturday with Seibold confirming NSW Origin centre James Roberts will return from an Achilles injury to start off the bench at the expense of Gehamat Shibasaki.

“James will play,” Seibold said. “He would prefer to start but I just think he’s been out for a couple of weeks.

“He will be on the bench, so we will make a tactical change at some point.

“His Achilles feels a lot better, his speed and power off the bench at some stage of the second half will be a weapon for us.”