NRL 2020: Paul Gallen ‘can’t believe’ Brisbane Broncos’ Darius Boyd snub

There’s one simple step the Broncos can take to try and fix their mess but Anthony Seibold refuses to bite and footy figures can’t believe it.

Hands on heads if you think the Broncos are stuffed.

Anthony Seibold looks set to wield the axe in a bid to shake the Broncos from their slumber but not everyone is convinced with the coach’s changes.

Brisbane lost 48-0 to the Tigers on Friday night for their seventh defeat in eight matches and at training on Monday, there were signs Seibold is planning to transform his side ahead of this week’s clash against Melbourne.

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Usual five-eighth Anthony Milford trained at fullback, young gun Tom Dearden looks set to play halfback and Brodie Croft is slated to wear the No. 6 jersey after being moved from first receiver.

The returns of Kotoni Staggs and Herbie Farnworth to the backline from injury also look set to cost Tesi Niu and Jamayne Isaako their spots at fullback and wing, respectively.

If it’s true Milford will start at the back against the Storm, then Paul Gallen can’t understand it. The Cronulla legend said Seibold must shift Darius Boyd from centre to fullback, where he’s played most of his career, so he can organise the Broncos’ diabolical defence.

“The first thing I’d do is put Darius Boyd back to fullback,” Gallen said on Nine’s 100% Footy.

“It sounds funny but fullback’s your first line of defence. When you’re a middle forward and you run back (in defence), you look at the fullback to tell you where to go. He tells you where to go.

“Darius Boyd’s sitting out in the centres doing absolutely nothing for this team at all. He’s the most senior play in that side, surely he’s got to be moved back to fullback.

“And that’s got to be a coach’s decision, doesn’t it? Surely.”

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Darius Boyd has played plenty of rep footy at fullback.

Milford, on a deal worth $1 million a year, has long been criticised for poor game management and Gallen says that fault means he’s ill-equipped to play fullback for a Broncos outfit in desperate need of leadership.

“Is Milford a talker? Do we know Milford to be a talker and organiser? I don’t think so,” Gallen said. “The reason he’s moving out of the halves to fullback is because he’s not an organiser or a talker.

“I just can’t believe Darius Boyd is not at fullback. From a coaching point of view, I can’t believe he’s not at fullback.”

Nine commentator Phil Gould agreed Boyd had to play fullback because the Broncos are “uneducated” in defence and don’t communicate well enough.

“Since he (Boyd) went to the centres their whole defensive resolve has fallen apart,” Gould said.

“In his day … he was one of the best defensive fullbacks in the competition and one of the best organisers. In fact, other clubs modelled their fullback on what Darius Boyd was doing in defence.

“To have an experienced voice at the back that actually gets people in position … all the things that a good fullback does can help those young fellas get a better defensive effort from where they are.”

Asked if Milford was the answer at fullback, Gould offered a simple “no” and said Seibold was “making change for change’s sake”.