IN Darius Boyd, the Broncos don’t just have a fullback strike weapon capable of taking them to a long-awaited premiership. They also have a player capable of developing into the next club captain.Twelve months ago, the notion of Boyd captaining an NRL club seemed as likely as snow in Saudi Arabia.
He seemed too insular. There were too many demons. He was viewed largely as a bloody good footballer, albeit one best left to concentrate on his game while others around him shouldered the leadership load.
But the Darius Boyd I saw in his rookie season at Brisbane in 2006, and even the man I saw last year, is far removed from the player who will run out against Manly at Gosford.
The rugby league fraternity knows the emotional turbulence Boyd has confronted.
The past 12 months has probably been the most challenging period of his life, but Boyd’s ability to come through the other side is a tribute to his character and desire to improve as a person.
Captaincy is not always bestowed on the man that is the best player.
It is the ability to inspire others, engender respect, identify the nuances of individuals and having the emotional intelligence and maturity to keep cool in good times and bad.
I’ve seen that maturation in Justin Hodges over the past few years.
Off the field, he has become a father, and that sense of responsibility has flowed into his professional life.
In the coming months, Boyd will celebrate the birth of his first child and I see him charting a similar path to Hodges in terms of his professional importance to the Broncos.
The beauty for Wayne Bennett is that he building a formidable leadership core.
Ben Hunt, Josh McGuire and Andrew McCullough are all entering their prime years, but when Justin and Corey Parker retire in the coming years, Boyd can certainly be a future Broncos captain.
When Boyd first arrived at Red Hill as an 18-year-old, I can’t say I saw something instantly special. He was a very quiet kid, but what impressed me was his reliability for a rookie.
A lot of young blokes do flashy things but can make glaring errors that cost you a game.
That was never Boyd.
He didn’t score length-of-the-field tries early on but he was rock solid. He always held his own. He simply didn’t commit costly clangers.
But what has pleased me most this season is not so much Boyd’s attacking ability, which is obvious, but his growing confidence as a leader and his on-field communication.
It’s fair to say Boyd’s teammates didn’t know him that well because he has never let us into his world.
But this year, he has been more confident, more willing to express himself, and that has cultivated his leadership traits.
Being more settled off the field is certainly helping him on it.
Watching him against the Titans last week, physically he is moving better after the pain of his achilles tear in pre-season.
I don’t believe Boyd is back to his true optimum just yet, but he’s almost there.
If we see the remaining five per cent in the run to the playoffs, Boyd is the type of player who can be difference between winning and losing a premiership.
By virtue of his natural talent, Boyd has the respect of his teammates, but technically there’s been some critical improvements to his game this season.
In defence, he is more vocal. He is barking orders, holding Brisbane’s defensive line together and in attack, he is giving the Broncos’ offence shape with his increase level of organisation.
That’s the sign of a leader — and a player who is taking teammates along with him in his quest to win the premiership.
The past month has convinced me Brisbane has the self-belief to go all the way.
I see it in their defensive application, their desire and their willingness to work for one another.
With 10 weeks to play, it is still too early for any title aspirant to produce the whip. Brisbane, the Cowboys, the Roosters and Souths are the contenders, and I’m yet to see evidence that another NRL rival can be added to that group.
But the key now is timing.
If the Broncos can time their fightback as well as Darius Boyd, they will be hard to topple.
