Anthony Seibold has outlined how captain Darius Boyd is helping unlock the best in David Fifita with the pair striking a solid partnership on the Broncos left side.
Fifita continues to wow the Suncorp Stadium faithful with the 19-year-old coming up with a match-winning surge in golden point to help secure a 17-16 win over the Eels on Friday night.
Fifita’s 30-metre run past six Eels gave Jamayne Isaako a close-range field goal attempt after he had earlier rumbled his way over the line to score a first-half try on the back of brute strength.
Boyd had an outstanding match with a try and crucial run in the lead-up to Fifita’s try. Fifita’s partnership with Boyd on Brisbane's left has been crucial to their late season surge and Seibold explained why.
"He is still forming that connection and cohesion with Darius on that left edge but he loves playing with Darius because he is such a good talker," Seibold said.
"When you are a young player one of the things you need to work on is the talk. I’m sure anyone who watches basketball would see how much they talk in defence. Darius does that job for David. He has been fantastic for him and that is why we are playing him on the left because he wants to play beside Darius. That is a fair indication of what Darius brings there."
Match Highlights: Broncos v Eels
Fifita is relishing his starting role after Seibold managed his game time after the Origin series with limited minutes off the bench. Now he is regularly coming up with decisive plays, as he did against the Eels.
"He came up with a massive play and scored a good try in the first half as well so he had a stormer of a game in attack and defensively he has been getting better on that left edge as well," Seibold said.
"It was about managing his time. David is only 19 and everyone who plays Origin for the first time tells me that it is mentally draining. We managed his time in the first couple of games after that but the longer he is out there the better team we are going to be."
Boyd had a cracker of a game after coming under plenty of heat during the week from critics.
"He was outstanding tonight," Seibold said.
"I have copped criticism for backing him which I don't understand because you back your leaders. Against a quality team I thought he was, if not our best player, certainly in the top two or three."
Seibold provides update on contract situations of Fifita and Boyd
The Broncos led 16-6 in the second half but showed composure to win after the Eels had drawn level in a game where Brisbane’s scrambling defence was willing.
"For the most part of the game I thought our defence was outstanding. They are a quality side and kept fighting but I thought we deserved the result," Seibold said.
Brisbane, now in seventh spot on the ladder, must still beat Canterbury away in round 25 to be sure of a finals berth.