NRL round 6 teams: Mixed messages exposed as Kevin Walters reveals why he dropped $1m man

Anthony Milford has finally been axed but mixed messages coming from Kevin Walters suggest there’s no answer to the Broncos’ woes.

Anthony Milford is set for a spell.

Brisbane coach Kevin Walters has explained why he had to drop $1 million man Anthony Milford as mixed messages emerged about the under-fire five-eighth.

The Broncos — who have won just once from five attempts in 2021 — confirmed Milford would be banished to reserve grade this weekend, as the team shows few signs of improvement since claiming its first ever wooden spoon last year.

Watch The 2021 NRL Telstra Premiership Live & On-Demand with No Ad-Breaks During Play. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >

The size of his pay packet has made Milford a lightning rod for criticism in recent times and Walters said he needs time away without the burden of expectation to regain his confidence.

“He needs to go back and find himself, find his form and find the Anthony Milford we all know he can be,” Walters told The Australian.

“I think a lot of them here have (lost confidence). It hasn’t been a great couple of years for them. We’re trying to drag them back out of that world and it is taking time.

“We will get there with it. Anthony has been part of all that. I feel it is a time to relieve the pressure off him and he can just go and play some footy.”

Mixed messages reveal Kevvie’s mess

Walters said he expects Milford to be back in the top flight within a month, but the decision to axe the 26-year-old comes just days after the coach declared his playmaker had “his best game of the year” in a 35-6 loss to the Rabbitohs last Thursday.

Tom Dearden and Brodie Croft will play in the halves this week against Penrith as Walters continues to chop and change his key positions in a bid to find the best combination.

Speaking on NRL 360 on Monday night, Paul Kent said: “I think he (Walters) is more confused than anybody (when it comes to managing his halves).

“All I can say in Kevvie’s defence there is he’s obviously gone away and watched the video … and re-appraised what his thoughts were. That’s the only way you can understand him saying that (about Milford’s best performance) after the game, then dropping him today.”

Walters finally cracked and pulled the trigger on Milford.

Young gun Dearden was tipped to start the season as Brisbane’s first choice No. 7 but was left out of the team altogether for the first two rounds before being brought onto the bench for a round three win over the Bulldogs.

The 20-year-old took Croft’s spot in the starting line-up when Melbourne hammered the Broncos 40-6 and kept it in the last start against South Sydney.

Fox Sports chief NRL reporter James Hooper told NRL 360: “I don’t think Tom Dearden’s overly happy with the way the beginning of the season played out, and the North Queensland Cowboys have been pushing very hard to try and convince him to move up to Townsville.”

Ex-Queensland Origin star Ben Ikin has a theory on why Walters has kept reshuffling his halves, suggesting the problems at Red Hill were more severe than the coach anticipated.

“Why I think I see this merry-go-round at the moment is that this season, for the Broncos, because Kevvie inherited such a broken organisation, is as much about getting a sense for who can do what,” Ikin said.

“I’ve got no doubt that the three blokes he’s inherited as playmakers this year, he didn’t get what he thought he was getting.

“So he’s trying to find out who works best with who.”

Tom Dearden hasn’t had any continuity in his young career.

THURSDAY, MARCH 15

Brisbane Broncos vs Penrith Panthers — 7.50pm at Suncorp Stadium

Broncos team: 1. Jamayne Isaako 2. Xavier Coates 3. Richard Kennar 4. Jesse Arthars 5. David Mead 6. Brodie Croft 7. Tom Dearden 8. Matthew Lodge 9. Jake Turpin 10. Payne Haas 11. Alex Glenn 12. Tevita Pangai Junior 13. Patrick Carrigan 14. John Asiata 15. Thomas Flegler 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Jordan Riki 18. Rhys Kennedy 19. Cory Paix 20. Keenan Palasia 21. Corey Oates

Panthers team: 1. Stephen Crichton 2. Charlie Staines 3. Paul Momirovski 4. Matt Burton 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Kurt Capewell 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Tyrone May 15. Spencer Leniu 16. Matthew Eisenhuth 17. Liam Martin 18. Scott Sorensen 19. Robert Jennings 20. J’maine Hopgood 21. Jaeman Salmon

FRIDAY, MARCH 16

Newcastle Knights vs Cronulla Sharks — 6pm at McDonald Jones Stadium

Knights team: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Brayden Musgrove 3. Enari Tuala 4. Bradman Best 5. Hymel Hunt 6. Kurt Mann 7. Blake Green 8. David Klemmer 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Daniel Saifiti 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Mitchell Barnett 13. Connor Watson 14. Sauaso Sue 15. Jacob Saifiti 16. Josh King 17. Brodie Jones 18. Simi Sasagi 19. Pasami Saulo 20. Phoenix Crossland 21. Gehamat Shibasaki

Sharks team: 1. Will Kennedy 2. Mawene Hiroti 3. Connor Tracey 4. Jesse Ramien 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Matt Moylan 7. Chad Townsend 8. Braden Hamlin-Uele 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Aaron Woods 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Toby Rudolf 14. Billy Magoulias 15. Aiden Tolman 16. Jack Williams 17. Siosifa Talakai 18. Braydon Trindall 19. Nene Macdonald 20. Franklin Pele 21. Jenson Taumoepeau

Melbourne Storm vs Sydney Roosters — 7.55pm at AAMI Park

Storm team: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. George Jennings 3. Reimis Smith 4. Justin Olam 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Brandon Smith 10. Christian Welch 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Kenneath Bromwich 13. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 14. Harry Grant 15. Tui Kamikamica 16. Tom Eisenhuth 17. Nicholas Hynes 18. Aaron Pene 19. Dean Ieremia 20. Chris Lewis 21. Brenko Lee

Roosters team: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Josh Morris 4. Joseph Manu 5. Brett Morris 6. Drew Hutchison 7. Sam Walker 8. Isaac Liu 9. Benjamin Marsce 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho 11. Angus Crichton 12. Sitili Tupouniua 13. Victor Radley 14. Adam Keighran 15. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 16. Nat Butcher 17. Lindsay Collins 18. Fletcher Baker 19. Matt Ikuvalu 20. Jesse Marschke 21. Daniel Suluka-fifita

SATURDAY, MARCH 17

Manly Sea Eagles vs Gold Coast Titans — 3pm at Glen Willow Oval

Sea Eagles team: 1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jason Saab 3. Brad Parker 4. Morgan Harper 5. Reuben Garrick 6. Kieran Foran 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Martin Taupau 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Josh Schuster 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Cade Cust 15. Toafofoa Sipley 16. Sean Keppie 17. Josh Aloiai 18. Tevita Funa 19. Zac Saddler 20. Christian Tuipulotu 21. Ben Trbojevic

Titans team: 1. Alexander Brimson 2. Phillip Sami 3. Brian Kelly 4. Patrick Herbert 5. Corey Thompson 6. Ashley Taylor 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Jarrod Wallace 9. Mitch Rein 10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 11. Kevin Proctor 12. David Fifita 13. Tyrone Peachey 14. Moeaki Fotuaika 15. Sam Lisone 16. Jaimin Jolliffe 17. Erin Clark 18. Beau Fermor 19. Herman Ese’ese 20. Sam McIntyre 21. Jonus Pearson

South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Wests Tigers — 5.30pm at Stadium Australia

Rabbitohs team: 1. Latrell Mitchell 2. Alex Johnston 3. Dane Gagai 4. Campbell Graham 5. Josh Mansour 6. Cody Walker 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Thomas Burgess 9. Damien Cook 10. Tevita Tatola 11. Jacob Host 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Cameron Murray 14. Benji Marshall 15. Mark Nicholls 16. Patrick Mago 17. Jai Arrow 18. Hame Sele 19. Liam Knight 20. Troy Dargan 21. Jaxson Paulo

Tigers team: 1. Daine Laurie 2. David Nofoaluma 3. James Roberts 4. Asu Kepaoa 5. Tommy Talau 6. Adam Doueihi 7. Luke Brooks 8. James Tamou 9. Jake Simpkin 10. Stefano Utoikamanu 11. Joe Ofahengaue 12. Luciano Leilua 13. Alex Twal 14. Moses Mbye 15. Luke Garner 16. Thomas Mikaele 17. Zane Musgrove 18. Jacob Liddle 19. Alex Seyfarth 20. Tom Amone 21. Michael Chee-Kam

Canberra Raiders vs Parramatta Eels — 7.35pm at GIO Stadium

Raiders team: 1. Caleb Aekins 2. Bailey Simonsson 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Curtis Scott 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Jack Wighton 7. George Williams 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Josh Hodgson 10. Iosia Soliola 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Joseph Tapine 14. Tom Starling 15. Ryan Sutton 16. Siliva Havili 17. Emre Guler 18. Sebastian Kris 19. Matt Frawley 20. Corey Harawira-Naera 21. Dunamis Lui

Eels team: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Tom Opacic 4. Marata Niukore 5. Blake Ferguson 6. Will Smith 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Ryan Matterson 13. Nathan Brown 14. Oregon Kaufusi 15. Isaiah Papali’i 16. Keegan Hipgrave 17. Bryce Cartwright 18. Joey Lussick 19. Haze Dunster 20. Wiremu Greig 21. Jordan Rankin

SUNDAY, MARCH 18

St George Illawarra Dragons vs Warriors — 2pm at Jubilee Stadium

Dragons team: 1. Matthew Dufty 2. Cody Ramsey 3. Jack Bird 4. Zac Lomax 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Corey Norman 7. Adam Clune 8. Blake Lawrie 9. Andrew McCullough 10. Paul Vaughan 11. Josh Kerr 12. Tariq Sims 13. Tyrell Fuimaono 14. Kaide Ellis 15. Trent Merrin 16. Daniel Alvaro 17. Brayden Wiliame 18. Jackson Ford 19. Billy Burns 20. Josh Mcguire 21. Jordan Pereira

Warriors team: 1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 2. Peta Hiku 3. Adam Pompey 4. Marcelo Montoya 5. Ken Maumalo 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Sean O’Sullivan 8. Leeson Ah Mau 9. Wayde Egan 10. Tohu Harris 11. Josh Curran 12. Jack Murchie 13. Jazz Tevaga 14. Ben Murdoch-Masila 15. Bunty Afoa 16. Kane Evans 17. Paul Turner 18. Rocco Berry 20. Tom Ale 21. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown 22. Taniela Otukolo

North Queensland Cowboys vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs — 4.05pm at Queensland Country Bank Stadium

Cowboys team: 1. Valentine Holmes 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Justin O’Neill 4. Connelly Lemuelu 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Scott Drinkwater 7. Ben Hampton 8. Coen Hess 9. Reece Robson 10. Jordan McLean 11. Shane Wright 12. Ben Condon 13. Jason Taumalolo 14. Jake Granville 15. Lachlan Burr 16. Francis Molo 17. Corey Jensen 18. Esan Marsters 19. Mitchell Dunn 20. Peter Hola 21. Jake Clifford

Bulldogs team: 1. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 2. Nick Cotric 3. Will Hopoate 4. Corey Allan 5. Tui Katoa 6. Jake Averillo 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Dylan Napa 9. Sione Katoa 10. Jack Hetherington 11. Adam Elliott 12. Corey Waddell 13. Luke Thompson 14. Jackson Topine 15. Renouf Atoni 16. Chris Smith 17. Ofahiki Ogden 19. Brandon Wakeham 20. Dean Britt 21. Joe Stimson 22. Matt Doorey