Anthony Milford, Kodi Nikorima struggle behind beaten Broncos pack

ANTHONY Milford and Kodi Nikorima were comprehensively outpointed by their Dragons rival but coach Wayne Bennett has turned the blowtorch on other Brisbane players.

Anthony Milford was well held by the Dragons defence.

BRONCOS coach Wayne Bennett has defended the performance of halves Anthony Milford and Kodi Nikorima as he lashed Brisbane’s forwards for failing to lay a matchwinning platform.

Million-dollar man Milford and Nikorima were comprehensively outpointed by rival Dragons halves Ben Hunt and Gareth Widdop as Brisbane launched their year with a 34-12 drubbing at Kogarah.

Former Bronco Hunt rubbed salt into deep wounds, playing with the type of control expected of Milford, who was consigned to passenger status without the platform of a dominant pack.

Milford failed to make a line-break or tackle break and was tactically beaten with the boot by Hunt, who amassed 287 kick metres — 101m more than the Broncos pivot (186m).

ANALYSIS: Five things we learned from Broncos’ belting

MATCH REPORT: Hunt haunts Broncos in brutal opener

Anthony Milford was well held by the Dragons defence.

Nikorima, meanwhile, made just 14 metres from two runs and produced three kicks in 80 minutes, but Bennett instead turned the blowtorch on a forward pack featuring Origin and Test stars.

“It’s hard for the halves to do anything when the other guys aren’t doing their job,” Bennett said.

Broncos halfback Kodi Nikorima is tackled by Dragons opposite Ben Hunt.

Controversial prop Matt Lodge was the only Broncos forward to exceed 100 metres, running for 107. Maroons back-rower Matt Gillett was held to just 53 metres, while Brisbane’s big boppers on the bench, Joe Ofahengaue (53m) and Korbin Sims (36m), barely made an impact.

One bright spot was the successful return of Andrew McCullough from a knee reconstruction, but the veteran hooker admits Brisbane must lift for next week’s derby against the Cowboys at Suncorp.

Matt Gillett and the Broncos forwards couldn’t get much going.

“It’s not Anthony Milford’s fault at all, it’s 1 to 17,” he said.

“We were scattered all over the place and it doesn’t matter how good your halves are, even the greatest halfback would struggle if we’re not going forward.”

Of Hunt’s heroics, good mate McCullough said: “He would be happy to beat us. He can now just relax and focus on playing well for the Dragons.”

Originally published as Anthony Milford, Kodi Nikorima struggle behind beaten Broncos pack