Anthony Milford flops again as Broncos cop battering from Storm

The Broncos discovered some spirit on Friday night but still copped a hiding at the hands of Melbourne Storm.

Jahrome Hughes’ fabulous solo try before halftime edged the Storm in front. Picture: Getty Images

The Broncos discovered some spirit on Friday night but still copped a hiding as Melbourne Storm overcame an early slumber to sink Brisbane 46-8.

A 38-point loss is hard to sugarcoat but the Broncos have been so bad lately that this was, remarkably, an improvement. For 40 minutes in wet conditions at Suncorp Stadium the Broncos went toe-to-toe with the NRL’s most ­consistent team of the past decade.

Then Brisbane completely crumbled.

It says a lot about how far the Broncos have fallen that losing by 38 points was not considered a complete disaster. But it wasn’t far off in the end.

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There were signs of improvement for Anthony Seibold’s Broncos, but ultimately it was another heavy defeat and Brisbane’s eighth loss from their past nine matches. The Broncos’ defence was split too easily and they lacked a killer blow with the ball to prove they are a long way off being an NRL premiership contender.

Broncos chairman Karl Morris has guaranteed Seibold will see out the season but Brisbane cannot keep conceding 40-plus points most weeks without serious questions being asked.

Anthony Milford’s move to fullback could not have started any worse.

The Broncos’ $1m man was “nutmegged” in his first involvement that saw Storm winger Josh Addo-Carr score after only 90 seconds.

The Broncos had not even touched the ball before it bounced between Milford’s legs into the in-goal in the second minute. On recent form, the Broncos could have dropped their bundle but they instead bounced back.

Brisbane’s Anthony Milford can’t hide his dejection after the Broncos were comprehensively beaten by Melbourne at Suncorp Stadium. Picture: Getty Images

Winger Herbie Farnworth crossed to level the scores and the Broncos looked a far different team to the outfit that was flogged 48-0 by the Tigers last week.

League legend Greg Alexander has called for Brisbane’s highest-paid player to be dropped from the team even if there’s not a better replacement ready to come in.

Milford was underwhelming at fullback for the Broncos. He was moved from five-eighth to fullback in an effort from Seibold to get a response from his million-dollar man.

By full time he had seven runs for 40 metres, two tackle busts, an error, and three missed tackles.

His opposite number, Ryan Papenhuyzen, ran for 238 metres and had nine tackle busts, a try and an assist according to Fox Sports Lab.

Broncos legend Kevin Walters said “you don’t just make change for the sake of change, you’ve got to bring someone in that’s going to be better”.

But Alexander was adamant Milford has to be axed no matter who’s in line to replace him.

“No, not at this stage, I don’t think so,” Alexander said.

“Anthony Milford, if you’re playing in a side that’s getting beaten and you’re one of the senior players, you’re one of the best players, you are the highest-paid player in the club, I want to see someone put an effort in.

“I want to see more than seven runs and 40 metres from a bloke, he is a terrific player, but he’s just not having a dig.”

Another Brisbane great, Corey Parker, said Milford’s performance simply was not good enough against the Storm.

“Seven runs for 40 metres; if that’s what you want from your fullback …” Parker said.

Despite their sloppy start, the Storm took a 14-8 lead into the break on the back of a fabulous individual try from halfback Jahrome Hughes.

Seibold waited, and waited, and waited before deciding to give young gun Tom Dearden a crack at halfback.

On the basis of Friday night’s performance, Dearden should have been in the team weeks ago. Dearden was impressive in his first start at halfback in 411 days, barking orders at the Broncos and pulling off some big defensive plays.

Despite being only 19, Dearden justified Seibold’s decision to finally pick him.

Seibold showed too much faith in the misfiring Brodie Croft-Milford combination, with Croft’s wayward pass early in the second half that was pounced on by Addo-Carr summing up his form.

The Storm were well below their clinical best, but when they switched on they comfortably cruised away from the Broncos.

Hughes’s try was special and they edged further ahead in the 45th minute through Kenny Bromwich.

From there the Storm controlled the contest.

Young prop Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Hughes and Addo-Carr bagged doubles as the Storm racked up their ninth win of the year. The Broncos’ last victory between the rivals at Suncorp was way back in 2009.

The Courier-Mail, Fox Sports