Broncos prop Matt Lodge has applauded coach Kevin Walters for having the ruthless edge to drop Anthony Milford and send a message to the entire squad that they will be held accountable for their performances.
Milford is set to be demoted to the Intrust Super Cup for the first time in his 185 game NRL career after Walters reviewed the loss to South Sydney and finally decided enough is enough with his under-performing $1 million man.
He trained entirely with the reserves team on Monday as Tom Dearden and Brodie Croft took control after Walters reviewed the loss to South Sydney where Milford touched the ball just 37 times and failed to inject himself on the contest.
The star pivot is not the only expected casualty of what Lodge called a "line in the sand" moment for the new coach, with centre Tesi Niu to be replaced by Jesse Arthars and Jordan Riki benched with Tevita Pangai jnr shifted to the right-edge back row as Pat Carrigan returns from suspension at lock.
Lodge said it was now clear the coach was going to hold every player accountable for their performance.
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"Obviously Kevvie has looked at the game [South Sydney loss] and found things he is not happy with and held some people accountable," Lodge said.
"We all know Milf is a talented first-grade footballer and him and a couple of others are not doing the things Kevvie wants and I applaud him for putting his foot down and taking a stand for something.
"Milf cops a lot of heat and pressure and I think he should know it’s not all on him, there is a lot of guys around him who are letting him down and unfortunately he has taken the rap for it, he is our senior guy and Kevvie has made a stand with him.
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"Everyone across the squad is vulnerable to it, if you’re not performing Kevvie has shown he will sit you out, including myself.
"The team needs something obviously. We have played around and played the nice guy for a long time and it’s not getting us anywhere.
"Someone needs to put their foot down and be ruthless and it’s Milf this time or me next time, whoever it is there is a time where if you’re not performing you are out.
"Enough is enough, it won’t be tolerated. But at the same time it’s probably a bit more than a one week thing to fix everything.
"Everyone who goes out there is trying hard but the confidence is down, they’re out of form and you know so it might be a little bit more of a process.
"Kevvie has come out and said he is looking for little parts of the game you can control and if you can’t do that he will field someone else."
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Walters may yet keep Milford on his interchange bench for the Panthers clash, although it could be argued the 26-year-old would be better served finding form and confidence with Souths-Logan in the Intrust Super Cup when they host Norths Devils on Sunday.
Lodge expects Milford to respond from the dumping as the off-contract playmaker fights to save his career at Red Hill.
"I'm sure Milf will be back, definitely, everyone knows how talented he is before this form slump we’ve had some good wins with Milf and he has got us home so I’m sure he will bounce back," Lodge said.
