Renouf: Milford must stand up for Broncos or face axe

The Broncos need Anthony Milford to stand up against the Titans and show everyone the quality player that he can be.

Saturday night is D-Day for Milford. Anthony Seibold has shown his hand by picking Tom Dearden on the bench.

That is obviously a decision that Seibold believes is best for the team but it is also a warning to Milford and Brodie Croft that if they don't perform there is a young half ready to take their spot.

Since coming back from the enforced break Milford has hardly fired a shot.

Milford is at his best when he is running the ball. Before writing this column I had a look at the dazzling try he scored against the Rabbitohs in round two where he beat six defenders just by backing himself.

It was from broken field play but it is something he can try and do at any stage. In that try he wanted the ball and he was determined. Milf has the speed and the footwork to cause headaches for any defence in traffic as well. I have seen him do it in Origin when he's had a chance.

He is a strike player and we have seen him do it.

Unfortunately Milford just hasn't performed in the last month. Last week's game against Newcastle highlighted where he is at with his football. He went missing. It was picked out by Joey Johns on Channel Nine and he hit the nail on the head.

I was thinking during the game 'Where is he?' He is the number six and he says he wants the ball in his hands but he seemed to be everywhere the ball wasn't.

It is simple. Get the ball in your hands.

He really doesn't have any excuse. If he doesn't perform against the Gold Coast then I don't see why he should be in the team to play the Warriors next week.

The Broncos have replaced Jamayne Isaako at fullback with Tesi Niu but they could have axed half a dozen, and Milford would definitely have been in that group.

Every half in the game could blame their own lack of impact on their forwards not getting momentum. Good players don't need excuses to be made for them though.

Allan Langer would always drag us out of a mess. We were never perfect but there was always someone who would pick up the slack for us.

This team doesn't have that at the moment but Milford is in a position where he should be taking the game by the scruff of the neck and making it his own.

His forwards can help him in this regard as well of course. Matt Lodge and Tevita Pangai can offload. It is time for Milf to follow them and get that second-phase play going. It is really time for the Broncos pack to also live up to their reputations.

It concerns me that since 2015 Milford has only shown glimpses of his best. He is one of the most experienced players in the team with 170-odd games and he should be standing up, but he's not.

He was given an opportunity to get the ball in his hands more at fullback last year but that didn't work out. Milford is back at six where he has really shone in the past. He showed that in 2015 where he was so close to winning the Clive Churchill Medal and a premiership.

Milf is such a lovely lad but he needs a rocket. I'm sure he can fire for Brisbane this week if he gets himself involved and runs the ball. If he does it can be the start of a Broncos resurgence. I am really expecting a big game from him.

The views in this article do not necessarily express the opinions of the NRL, ARL Commission, NRL clubs or state associations.