Anthony Milford is staying at five-eighth, no matter what anyone else thinks.
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Brisbane Broncos coach Wayne Bennett was adamant his star recruit would remain in the pivot spot despite a shaky start against the Rabbitohs last week.
Bennett has runs on the board when it comes to switching fullbacks to five-eighth, having done it a decade ago with Darren Lockyer.
The fledgling halves combination of Milford and Ben Hunt were outgunned by the premiers last Thursday night but Bennett said time would be on the pair's side.
"He's (Milford) just a project," he said.
"It's not going to happen overnight for him."
"It's another game so that's what they need, they need more games and it's just another game for them."
While the veteran coach stopped short of drawing a parallel between Milford and Lockyer as players, he was steadfast in his commitment to Milford in the no. 6 jumper.
"You can write what you like and say what you like," he said.
"When you go back a decade or a bit longer you know when Darren Lockyer went to five eighth.
"You all jumped on the bandwagon and bagged him and bagged me and he went on to be one of the great players of the game."
"They're different players but I'm just telling you I know what I'm dealing with.
"I'm not going to go away from it.
"It doesn't matter what you say or write it's not going to worry me."
Bennett said there was only one danger for the young star.
"If he starts reading what you guys start writing then he's in a fair bit of trouble."
Milford said he was still settling into his new position but the support of his teammates was crucial.
"I was pretty slow to get into the game but I guess when I kind of found my feet I felt real comfortable around the boys," he said.
"It was bit rusty in areas but we can only improve and the combination with Benny will only get better as the season goes on."
Milford will be facing another fullback turned five eighth in the Sharks' Ben Barba on Friday.
Barba was the Milford of 2013 for the Broncos, the side's marquee signing before battling injury and poor form in his one season at Red Hill.
Bennett wouldn't be drawn on Barba's early season form, in his new combination with Sharks' half back Jeff Robson.
While Milford will stay put in the thick of the action, veteran forward Sam Thaiday will be on the bench.
Bennett said Thaiday had accepted the decision.
"He's all good," he said.
Corey Oates will come into the Broncos for the injured Dale Copley, who limped out of Thursday morning's training with a calf injury, while Joe Ofahengaue and Kodi Nikorima will make their NRL debuts.
