NRL 2020: Brisbane Broncos mass team changes, Anthony Milford moves to fullback

Under-fire Broncos coach Anthony Seibold has responded to his 10-game ultimatum by swinging the axe and re-building his backline from scratch.

Anthony Milford looks lost in Brisbane.

Broncos coach Anthony Seibold has responded to his reported 10-game ultimatum by swinging the axe and re-building his backline from scratch.

Seibold showed his hand during Brisbane’s training session on Monday morning after the club was humiliated 48-0 by the Wests Tigers on Friday night.

The session, which was opened to the public, showed the axe has already been swung ahead of the club’s Round 11 clash with the Storm on Friday night with rising star Tesi Nui and Kiwi international Jamayne Isaako reportedly dumped from the first grade training session.

The pair were the casualties of Seibold’s new-look backline which includes star playmaker Anthony Milford being moved to fullback and Tom Dearden moving to halfback in a selection switch that will see Brodie Croft pushed to five-eighth.

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ABC Brisbane reporter Michael Rennie wrote on Twitter: “MASSIVE shake-up brewing at the Broncos ahead of match vs Storm! Tom Dearden looks set to play 7. Brodie Croft 6. Anthony Milford 1. Herbie Farnworth 2. Kotoni Staggs 3. Tesi Nui, Jamayne Isaako look to be dropped.”

Channel 7’s Chris Garry also noted star wrecking ball Tevita Pangai appears set to move back to the second row after a brief spell in the front row. And rookie Tyson Gamble could make his debut this weekend.

The Milf is back where he started.

“Tyson Gamble to 14. Pangai to back row. Herbie and Staggs back,” Garry posted on Twitter.

The returns of Herbie Farnworth and star centre Kotoni Staggs is welcome news for the Broncos after winger Corey Oates suffered a serious leg injury at the end of the loss to the Tigers.

The Broncos are also hopeful of having No. 9 Jake Turpin and forward Matt Lodge return from injury to face the Storm.

The selection shake-up is perhaps the last gamble of under fire coach Seibold after reports claimed he has been handed a 10-game ultimatum to win at least five more games this season or face the sack just two years into a reported five-year contract.

The former Rabbitohs mentor has recently been criticised for sticking with his under-performing players, but he appears to have finally been fed up with the lifeless performances seen in recent weeks.

Jamayne Isaako is gone.

While Broncos officials have publicly admitted that Seibold would have time to correct the ship, a Sunday Mail report from Peter Badel and Phil Rothfield claimed the side needs to win five of their final ten matches for the coach to retain his position, or the club would look at severance packages.

The Broncos play the Storm, Sharks, Rabbitohs, Raiders, Dragons, Roosters, Panthers, Titans, Eels and Cowboys over the next 10 weeks.

Seibold has been savaged throughout the season after the club suffered some awful losses this season and the coach admitted earlier this month he’d likely jump rather than be pushed.

“If at some stage the Broncos don’t think I’m the right person for the job, then that’s their decision,” he said.

“I have a really strong contract there, it’s not performance-based, but at the end of the day, I’ll know if I’m not the right person for the job. I won’t need anyone else to tap me on the shoulder.”