Seibold set to recall Dearden, switch Milford to fullback

Broncos coach Anthony Seibold looks set to ring in the changes with Tom Dearden likely to play halfback and Anthony Milford fullback against the Storm on Friday night.

The Milford move covers the loss of rookie Tesi Niu who has suffered cartilage damage to his wrist. Pending a visit to the specialist it is expected that he will undergo surgery on the injury.

The Broncos trained on Monday with Dearden and Brodie Croft in the halves. Croft was wearing the No.6 jersey.

Kotoni Staggs appears set to make a return from a hamstring injury and trained in the centres with Darius Boyd.

Herbie Farnworth, returning from a cork, had a run on the wing in place of Jamayne Isaako.

Tevita Pangai jnr and Joe Ofahengaue trained in the back row.

Halfback Tyson Gamble wore the No.14 jersey in a sign he may be included as a bench utility. Seibold has resisted mass sackings but has rearranged the spine in the wake of the 48-0 drubbing at the hands of Wests Tigers on Friday.

Cory Paix was at dummy half with the main group in place of Issac Luke, who is accepting a one-game suspension for a dangerous throw on Chris Lawrence.

Jake Turpin, returning from a knee injury, did line up with the reserves and is a chance to come into the side.

Dearden, 19, has played two games as a bench utility this season and last played as starting halfback for the Broncos in round 13 against the Titans last year where he suffered a syndesmosis injury.

He impressed in the halves alongside Milford last year where he helped orchestrate consecutive wins over the Sea Eagles, Roosters and Warriors to reignite the Broncos' season.

"Tom will do what he does best. He is a competitor," Brisbane captain Pat Carrigan said when asked what Dearden would bring to the table at halfback.

"He got an opportunity last year at the age of 18. He is a confident character and likes to play on the ball and the way the new rules are, we are going to have to adapt better and play flat and fast footy and Tommy will do that.

"The way we have been playing there has been a need for some changes and we are just trying some things."

In the post-match media conference after Friday's loss, Seibold was a man with the weight of the world on his shoulders and without answers to his side’s woes.

"There’s nothing I can say. We’re out of words," Seibold said.

Seibold has said he believes he is the man to get the Broncos out of the hole they are in but has conceded there may come a time when CEO Paul White and the board taps him on the shoulder and says it is time for a new direction.

Brisbane forward Tevita Pangai jnr said the players still supported their coach and took responsibility for changing the inept defence which led to the Wests Tigers strolling through paper-thin tackling.

"Seibs is still here. That’s obvious and we back him as our coach," Pangai said.

"We back the board and our senior players as well.

"Our defence has been a weakness the last eight weeks and that is what we are working on.

"We can’t blame the coach or the board. That is on us players to be accountable. It is all on us. We let [Wests Tigers] score some simple tries and if we can fix up the talk on the edges and slow down the play-the-ball we will be a lot better this week."

Carrigan said the side's overall performance in the last eight weeks was "inexcusable" and that the inexperience of some squad members was also no excuse.

"I have got my full faith in everyone here at the club, in Seibs and the board that we can stick together, get through this and get some results," Carrigan said.

Croft is one of those under-fire players Carrigan said would lift against his former club.

"Crofty is someone who wears his heart on his sleave and competes for every inch," Carrigan said.

"He is from the Melbourne system and is well disciplined and got to where he is today on the back of hard work.

“Maybe the pressure of things probably got the better of him because he has copped the brunt of it but there are 17 of us who are letting each other down first and foremost before we put the blame on one player."