Under-fire Brisbane five-eighth Anthony Milford has taken ownership of the Broncos' poor start to the NRL season, admitting his defence must improve ahead of Saturday's clash with Cronulla.
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Milford and halves partner Kodi Nikorima have been in critics' headlights during a 1-5 start to the season - the worst in 20 years at Red Hill.
Andrew Johns and Johnathan Thurston have called for changes to Brisbane's spine as a result, but Milford is trying his best not to listen.
"It's part and parcel of being a Bronco," Milford said.
"Kodi and I accept the responsibility, we're trying to work as hard as we can and make sure we nail it."
The pivot insists he's enjoying the challenge and said a heart-to-heart with Nikorima after last weekend's tight loss to Canberra had sparked the pair.
"It was a get together after the game (to discuss) the pros and cons," he said, adding that his main focus was in defence.
"We felt we needed to work a bit harder, get us around the park a little bit more and execute our plays.
"We've been a lot more upbeat in training (since then) and definitely working together and 100 percent (I'm happy) ... I'm sure the tide will turn."
The 24-year-old, reportedly on almost $1 million a season at Red Hill, mixed moments of brilliance with some ordinary defence in the 26-22 loss to the Raiders in the last round.
New coach Anthony Seibold has publicly backed his halves combination but this week added teenage playmaker Tom Dearden to the 21-man squad for the first time.
Dearden, still 18 and a veteran of just four Queensland Cup games, trained with the reserves on Thursday but has been endorsed by captain Darius Boyd as ready for the NRL "right now".
Milford showed nimble footwork to avoid directly answering if that promotion had amplified the pressure on him, although it didn't seem to be weighing on his mind during a training session in which he had the ball on a string.
Matt Lodge also trained strongly as he eyes a return after a week out with a throat injury while Tevita Pangai Jnr is also keen for some action after a two-week suspension for his hit on Sydney Roosters playmaker Cooper Cronk.
If Lodge is selected it would give the Broncos, already four wins adrift of the top four, their strongest side on paper this season for a clash that looms as crucial ahead of a date with Wayne Bennett's South Sydney next weekend.
Australian Associated Press
