AUSTRALIA coach Mal Meninga has declared Darius Boyd ready for the Broncos captaincy after the classy fullback capped the finest season of his NRL career.
Boyd iced an outstanding 2016 campaign with the Maroons ace clinching his first Ron McAuliffe Medal as Queensland’s Origin player of the year.
It has been a dominant period for Boyd, who was last week short-listed for the Golden Boot Award after helping Australia to the Four Nations title in England.
Meninga spent the past month watching Boyd from close quarters and the Kangaroos mentor is adamant the Broncos custodian must be installed as Brisbane’s next skipper.
Broncos coach Wayne Bennett will appoint Corey Parker’s successor next month, with Andrew McCullough and Sam Thaiday among the contenders, but Meninga says there is only one man for the job.
“Darius is ready for the Broncos captaincy, no doubt about that,” said Meninga, the former Maroons coach who launched Boyd’s Origin career in 2008.
“He is part of our leadership group (in the Australian team), every week he participates and mixes in well with the team.
“He is everything you want from a leader and he will develop more as a leader under Wayne (Bennett) — he would be the right choice to be honest with you.”
A veteran of 2467 first-grade games, Boyd has undergone a life-changing transformation in the past two years.
In 2014, the Maroons ace checked into rehab following a private battle with anxiety and depression. At that stage, Boyd had a terrible relationship with the media and was considered no hope of holding a leadership role at an NRL club.
But since confronting his personal demons, Boyd has embraced a more senior role at the Broncos.
In the past 12 months, the Test fullback has sought help to work on his public speaking and is relishing the ambassadorial demands that would come with the Broncos captaincy.
Meninga said Broncos players would instantly respect Boyd, who was on Monday crowned Queensland’s best-and-fairest after spearheading their series win last season.
“Darius has a lot more self-belief in himself now which is important,” said Meninga, the former Test skipper.
“Darius has always been a good person but his confidence and belief in himself has changed. Going away and doing what he did, seeking counselling and making those hard decisions ... he put his hand up and said he has a problem he needs to fix.
“When he opens his mouth now, it’s in a confident way. He has no problems talking in front of a group, so his metamorphosis has been fantastic.
“I have no doubt he could handle the public admiration and the duties that go with being captain of the Broncos.”
While Boyd is a raging favourite for the post, Broncos legend Steve Renouf says Bennett should consider McCullough.
“I’d give the captaincy to Andrew,” Renouf said. “Darius is a great player but McCullough is younger and he rarely misses a game. He’s the heart and soul of the Broncos’ forward pack.”
