Thaiday: Bennett has always had my back

Veteran Brisbane Broncos forward Sam Thaiday is committed to playing out the rest of the season in the knowledge coach Wayne Bennett has his back.

Bennett said last week the 32-year-old would not be dropped in 2018 after former Broncos and Maroons star Chis Walker called on Thaiday to retire.

Thaiday has also stood by his highly criticised post-match comment after the Broncos 15-10 loss to the Newcastle Knights where he said "tonight wasn't about winning for us, it was about getting better than last week".

"I meant what I said," Thaiday said after Broncos training on Wednesday while explaining what he was driving at with the statement.

"When we play footy, every time it is about the process and doing your job. Winning is the reward that comes from those things. If we don't go through the process, don't stick to our game plan and don't do our job we don't get the win."

With regard to Walker's call, Thaiday said it was "in the past" and that "it doesn’t matter" while stating that his coach's response was not a shock.

"Behind closed doors, Wayne has always had my back and supported me 100 percent so that is not new news to me," Thaiday said.

"It is good to know that I have got the full support of Wayne and I am going to go out and try and enjoy the rest of the year."

Thaiday said he was on a modified training schedule to keep him on the field each week.

"It has been [modified] for the last few years and it definitely helps sometimes getting a few less leg weights and a few less running metres on the [training] field," he said.

"If I had a time machine I'd go back and clone myself and bring myself back to the current time and it would be a bit easier. I'm an ageing player and I'm just trying to do my best for the team."

Thaiday's teammate Korbin Sims was quick to offer support when asked if Thaiday was off his game.

"I don’t think he is in a slump," Sims said.

"He's done some good things and some bad things. I don't think anyone has had a consistent start to the year across the board.

"I've played with Kurt Gidley and Beau Scott and Sammy is up there [as a post-30 performer]. He's a class forward and he knows what he needs to do to prepare for a game.

"I’m … looking forward to the back end of the year and seeing him rip in."

Sims also addressed the barrage of criticism the club was copping for its slow start to 2018.

"I just wish people would back off my teammates," he said.

"I'm sick of seeing people bag the Broncos but that's part and parcel of being at the club.

“I think [criticism] is valid, as in the position we are in and the success the club has had in recent times. We haven't been able to take that next step for the club and it has been a long time between premierships."

Sims said he was confident the side would get the job done against the New Zealand Warriors on Saturday.

"Our forwards have been copping a bit but that's easy fixed,'' he said.

"We’ll stick together. We always will. We've been through the same thing [before] and come out on top."