Boyd: Broncos don't need to change team

Darius Boyd has insisted the Brisbane Broncos "don't need to change" their run-on side as he responded to a barrage of questions about the make-up of the under-performing squad.

"We don't want to change and we don't need to change just because we have lost a few games of footy," the Broncos captain said after training on Tuesday.

"This is the best team that we have."

The Broncos made several line breaks in the 15-10 loss to the Newcastle Knights with James Roberts and Anthony Milford making open metres which did not lead to the points.

pan66.com asked Boyd if it was time to get Roberts on the same side of the field as Milford to make the most of the scything incisions the Brisbane five-eighth was making.

"There is never a reason to change like that," Boyd said.

"We know what works for us and while we are not playing our best it has nothing to do with changing players and dropping people.

"This is the best team that we are putting out each week that we know can get the job done and has got the job done in the past."

pan66.com columnist Steve Renouf has called for Milford and Roberts to play together on the left but Boyd responded by saying: "Jimmy is a specialist right centre and if you asked Jimmy he probably wouldn't be happy with that.

"You'd probably have to ask the Pearl [Renouf] what side he'd like to defend with and step with but these days when you are right-handed and right-footed I don't think you'd be comfortable on the left-hand side of the field."

Coach Wayne Bennett said last week he was sticking with Milford and Kodi Nikorima indefinitely and that Boyd would not be switching to five-eighth.

When asked what he made of Bennett's virtual "season pass" for his halves, Boyd asked: "What would you change?"

pan66.com was in the middle of suggesting Jamayne Isaako at fullback, Boyd at five-eighth and Nikorima to the bench as a utility, with Milford switching to half, before Boyd interjected. 

"I've never played five-eighth in my NRL career."

"Our best team is out there on the field and while it is disappointing we aren't getting results and you guys [in the media] probably want to see changes, we need to stick strong.

"We were two [wins] and three [losses] last year and we finished in the top four so we are two and three again and we have a massive game this week and we need to play well against the Warriors.

"We have been there or thereabouts but there are a few areas we are lacking and we've watched a bit of tape this morning and done some training to rectify that."

We don’t want to change and we don't need to change just because we have lost a few games of footy.

Darius Boyd

After the Knights loss, Bennett copped a below the belt serve from Nathan Brown in the post-match press conference with his “big head and little head” quote, but Boyd and Andrew McCullough did not want to add fuel to the fire.

"I can't comment. I don't read the news. They are big boys and they'll sort it out I guess," Boyd grinned.

McCullough said: "I've got nothing for you on that … Wayne has been there before and I am sure he is well aware of what happened … but that's out of my jurisdiction."

Jack Bird trained in the halves on Tuesday with  Nikorima (corked thigh) rested from the club's field session. Josh McGuire (back) and Joe Ofahengaue (bruised knee) all missed field training with the trio expected to be fit for training  on Wednesday and to play against the Warriors.