Darius Boyd - Appreciation Thread

[rnabokov]

Turning his life around has turned his game around as I see it. He is more relaxed, comfortable and involved. As others have said, he is integral to the success of the team and like Milford, is only getting better.

He makes the team work from the back and complements it. To me, that's more important than individual brilliance and who knows, he may still be uncovering hidden aspects to his game still to be seen. It doesn't really matter though. What he has shown so far is what this team needs: experience, skill and intelligent decision making. Well done Darius.

 

[morganmorgan]

I was a hater. Begging and pleading we didn't sign him. Totally have reversed my thoughts. IMO 3rd FB in nrl after billy and Inglis (could be on par with inglis)

 

[Waynesaurus]

Well I'll admit I was one of the doubters but I'm pleased to say he is doing a pretty good job for us at them moment, he certainly looks like has turned his life and attitude around from the interviews I've seen, which is great.

I will also admit I certainly feel much more comfortable knowing he is at the back, last year our catching was dreadful and was just killing us.

However I will throw some petrol on this fire :flame:.................for mine we could have gone with Milford (or Kahu) at fullback and went hard for DCE or run with one of our younger up and coming halves.

But saying that.....Milford is going pretty well in the six so maybe I should just shut up and bow down before Mr Bennett. :hail:

 

[Renegade]

However I will throw some petrol on this fire :flame:.................for mine we could have gone with Milford (or Kahu) at fullback and went hard for DCE or run with one of our younger up and coming halves.

if people think Boyd on 600/800k is bad, I'd hate to see the board if we paid what DCE was looking for.

 

[mitch222]

If we had paid 1.2 mill for DCE, I would have been mighty pissed off. I wanted to sign him at the start of last year but Hunt stepped it up, Milford was signed then I was content knowing we have some decent players in the 6 and 7 that are young & don't break the bank. This allows us to assemble a decent team around them to help them. DCE & Foran benefited greatly from Manly in their earlier years because they weren't being paid superstar money so manly could afford to give them decent support players to assist them.

 

[Morkel]

I was a hater. Begging and pleading we didn't sign him. Totally have reversed my thoughts. IMO 3rd FB in nrl after billy and Inglis (could be on par with inglis)

For mine he's a fair way down the list. I'd put Dugan ahead of him. RTS too. But that's perfectly fine for me. Because I'd rather have a team that wins on teamwork and group effort than individual brilliance.

 

[theshed]

Meh I disagree. Boyds a bit of a victim of being a jack of all trades.

If this was a video game Boyd would have around an 85 rating in every area. Speed, defence, positioning, ball skills, bomb defusing, etc etc.

Dugan would have a worse score in a lot of areas but a 95+ in running and power. RTS would have a 99 foot work and agility.

They'd all have around an 85 average except boyd wouldn't have any area that deviates much higher or lower than his mean.

It just depends on whether you want a player that is somewhat above average in every aspect but exceptional in none or a player that is average in some areas and exceptional in some.

I do agree that Boyd suits our team more than the latter option.

 

[Rally Towel]

Fair assessment [MENTION=2290]theshed[/MENTION].

I'd take RTS in a heartbeat but I'd rather Darius than Dugan any day. Aside from his kick in Origin I, I've never seen him offer anything other than strong ball running.

 

[theshed]

Yeah who knows where RTS ceiling is. Hes show scary amounts of potential and could be showing us the start of something very very special.

But I digress.

 

[Kimlo]

A month later, I seriously couldn't be happier to have him on board. He's the best fullback we've had since KHunt by a mile.

His defence is just outstanding, safe as a house in every aspect and he chooses the right options in attack 99% of the time. I pretty much can't remmeber him choosing the wrong option in attack. Compared to the last few years of extremely frustrating players like Barba, Hoffman, Norman and co, thankfully they've all been moved on.

Thrilled we got him back, as I said earlier, him staying fit and healthy, as well as Milford and Hunt, is the key to us challenging for a premiership.

 

[Super Freak]

Even better than Hodges?

 

[Smokin' Joe]

A month later, I seriously couldn't be happier to have him on board. He's the best fullback we've had since KHunt by a mile. His defence is just outstanding, safe as a house in every aspect and he chooses the right options in attack 99% of the time. I pretty much can't remmeber him choosing the wrong option in attack. Compared to the last few years of extremely frustrating players like Barba, Hoffman, Norman and co, thankfully they've all been moved on. Thrilled we got him back, as I said earlier, him staying fit and healthy, as well as Milford and Hunt, is the key to us challenging for a premiership.

If Hodges does pull the pin at the end of this season, I wouldn't be opposed to Darius having the C next to his name each week

 

[Kimlo]

Even better than Hodges?

No one is better than Hodges. I think if he was a career fullback, he'd be one of the best attacking fullbacks ever. His defence isn't good enough anymore for the workload, but he's still brilliant with the ball.

 

[Unbreakable]

If Hodges does pull the pin at the end of this season, I wouldn't be opposed to Darius having the C next to his name each week

Yeah I said that in the original post in this thread, totally agree, he's become a legit leader on the field and off the field for us.

 

[vertigo]

Watching him sail through a gap with a smile on his face - priceless.

 

[Allo]

Really happy to see him playing his best footy since his time at the Dragons, especially after last year which is why I was firmly against him coming at the time (however inevitable I knew it would be). He's a new man it seems, both on and off which obviously feed into one another.

He's brought confidence and communication to our defence because he's knows what to do and his skill level just amplifies it. Every other player we've had at FB probably had very limited defensive knowledge, which is why the Storm/Dogs etc performance never would have been possible in the last few years. Now his attack is starting to shift up gears and his combination with the halves is clicking really well.

By far the best part is that not once have I worried about bombs being dropped (not that Hoffman was bad at all in that respect), players being out of position for any kick or the ball not being passed in attack.

Well done on all accounts Darius, I'm beyond happy you were brought back.

 

[Foordy]

An article from Locky

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.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...eir-next-captain/story-fnp0lyn6-1227465313465

 

[Huge]

We've really have had a who's who of fuckwits wearing the #1 jersey ever since Locky switched to 6. Khunt, Norman, Hoffman, Barba.

So I'm very happy with Darius right now.

As most would know I was very vocal in my support for Boyds return and I am as pleased as Bhq is. I also agree we had a lot of poor fullbacks but Karmichael Hunt wasn't one of them. Unless I'm going senile and there's some evidence for that, Hunt was tremendous for us. He was one of the bravest with his returns, utterly fearless and I was amazed at how courageous he was at such a tender age. He may not have been in Lockyers class at fullback but he was a good 'un.