PLAYER Darius Boyd Discussion

[Nashy]

Why can't both be a problem?

Sorry, I will rephrase.

You will quickly realise that Macca is not the biggest player issue we have on the team.

 

[Mr Fourex]

...and Milford is??

 

[Mr Fourex]

Yeah probably going to blame the millionaire who shows up every 4 weeks. Our hooker is barely part of the attacking game plan. We have been a defensive team for years (Successfully, might I add) which is where he was the glue. When he wasn't there we fell apart. The players we signed to attack need to step up and attack, not the defensive hooker.

...the defensive hooker, pffft.

Great.......just what we need, a specialist hooker, in defence. :facepalm:

 

[Cult]

...the defensive hooker, pffft.

Great.......just what we need, a specialist hooker, in defence. :facepalm:

With all of these amazing attackers we apparently have who can't defend, yeah.

 

[Cult]

...and Milford is??

Depends what round we are talking about. Hasn't been his fault every week but he sure as hell should be carrying a fair bit of blame for where we are this season

 

[Super Freak]

Depends what round we are talking about. Hasn't been his fault every week but he sure as hell should be carrying a fair bit of blame for where we are this season

And how is that?

He's been trying to carry the team all season due to having an ineffective halfback and hooker.

 

[Cult]

And how is that?

He's been trying to carry the team all season due to having an ineffective halfback and hooker.

Kodi has been trying to be an effective halfback, doesn't mean he's succeeding. Milfords kicking game has been much better this season, sometimes. His running game has not been good at all this season. He's been just as effective as the blokes you're trying to place the blame on but for four times the price. Imagine if Milford took 800k a season so we could have offered a sometimes effective halfback an extra 200k to return. Milford has been saved by a goal post, TPJ, Isaako and Roberts on separate occasions this season. His trying isn't good enough. They've been carrying the team just as much.

 

[Super Freak]

Kodi has been trying to be an effective halfback, doesn't mean he's succeeding. Milfords kicking game has been much better this season, sometimes. His running game has not been good at all this season. He's been just as effective as the blokes you're trying to place the blame on but for four times the price. Imagine if Milford took 800k a season so we could have offered a sometimes effective halfback an extra 200k to return. Milford has been saved by a goal post, TPJ, Isaako and Roberts on separate occasions this season. His trying isn't good enough. They've been carrying the team just as much.

He's been more effective than them but sure.

I've lost count on the amount of times Milford has got us in a position to score points only for Nikorima and Macca to derp it up and undo all of that, mainly Nikorima. The Knights game is one example.

That's not to say Milford hasn't stuffed up. He has had his moments, because for the most part he's been left to do it all himself due to not getting much support from his spine. But when it comes to blame, Milford is the last person to blame. He might be on a lot of money but he isn't a Darren Lockyer. He can't do it all himself.

 

[Cult]

He's been more effective than them but sure.

I've lost count on the amount of times Milford has got us in a position to score points only for Nikorima and Macca to derp it up and undo all of that, mainly Nikorima. The Knights game is one example.

That's not to say Milford hasn't stuffed up. He has had his moments, because for the most part he's been left to do it all himself due to not getting much support from his spine. But when it comes to blame, Milford is the last person to blame. He might be on a lot of money but he isn't a Darren Lockyer. He can't do it all himself.

It took Milford ten rounds to remember how to catch. Let's not overhype his season. There were games where he made 12 metres earlier in the season! Nikorima has got himself into a position to score and messed it up himself as well, in fact he has more linebreaks and only one less try assist than Milford and one less try. The only things he has been a fair bit better at is kick metres and defending (Not against the Warriors though). Sounds like he's getting just as much help as he is giving.

 

[holdzy]

It took Milford ten rounds to remember how to catch. Let's not overhype his season. There were games where he made 12 metres earlier in the season! Nikorima has got himself into a position to score and messed it up himself as well, in fact he has more linebreaks and only one less try assist than Milford and one less try. The only things he has been a fair bit better at is kick metres and defending (Not against the Warriors though). Sounds like he's getting just as much help as he is giving.

Maybe it would help him if ya boy gave him the ball when he called for it more often. Your bias against Milford is hilarious, I'm surprised you haven't brought up Hunt yet.

 

[Cult]

Maybe it would help him if ya boy gave him the ball when he called for it more often. Your bias against Milford is hilarious, I'm surprised you haven't brought up Hunt yet.

It’s usually you guys who bring up Hunt. In literally every thread since 2015.

I like Milford, he just deserves more criticism around here. Somehow he gets away with it. Maybe if he wasn’t bludging away from the ruck McCullough could pass him the ball more often. He gets pissy when McCullough doesn’t pass him the ball when he’s trying to take a hit up like a prop in the opposition 10.

Seriously he avoids actual responsibility most of the time. After years of seeing blokes do more than what Milford has in 2018 and absolutely copping it, I just expect some Milford criticism. It’s weird

 

[holdzy]

It’s usually you guys who bring up Hunt. In literally every thread since 2015.

I like Milford, he just deserves more criticism around here. Somehow he gets away with it. Maybe if he wasn’t bludging away from the ruck McCullough could pass him the ball more often. He gets pissy when McCullough doesn’t pass him the ball when he’s trying to take a hit up like a prop in the opposition 10.

Seriously he avoids actual responsibility most of the time. After years of seeing blokes do more than what Milford has in 2018 and absolutely copping it, I just expect some Milford criticism. It’s weird

Bludging away from the ruck? Do actually watch games? He gets pissy when he doesn't get the ball and Macca goes the other direction for some stupid reason and the play dies. He's entitled to get pissy - his hooker has no vision and is constantly screwing up plays by not getting him the ball, add to that Milf is the best support runner in the team and rarely gets a decent offload. Milford gets plenty of criticism on here, not enough in your eyes, but then again, whenever he does something good (his kicking this year) you can barely bring yourself to acknowledge it without some tacked on dig.

I think Milford can be better, and that he's being spread too thin with the lack of leadership and direction in the team. And gee, I wonder who you are referring to with the 'years of seeing blokes do more than Milford' line...

 

[The True King]

I was having a think about this and curious to know where people rate Darius in terms of current fullbacks in the NRL.

Is he in the top few, somewhere in the middle of the pecking order, or towards the bottom?

My personal opinion is that there is some daylight between the top 5 (Slater, Trbojevic, Tedesco, Ponga, Tuivasa-Sheck) and the rest. I'd then have Holmes as the first in the chasing pack then probably Hopoate, Johnston and Boyd. Then there's there likes of Gordon, Mbye, Wighton and Gutherson, Dufty as the weaker candidates.
*I have not included Coote, DWZ, Edwards, Peachey, TMM, Hampton because I just think there's been too much rotation at the Cows and Panthers to even rank these guys.

 

[Battler]

I was having a think about this and curious to know where people rate Darius in terms of current fullbacks in the NRL.

Is he in the top few, somewhere in the middle of the pecking order, or towards the bottom?

My personal opinion is that there is some daylight between the top 5 (Slater, Trbojevic, Tedesco, Ponga, Tuivasa-Sheck) and the rest. I'd then have Holmes as the first in the chasing pack then probably Hopoate, Johnston and Boyd. Then there's there likes of Gordon, Mbye, Wighton and Gutherson, Dufty as the weaker candidates.
*I have not included Coote, DWZ, Edwards, Peachey, TMM, Hampton because I just think there's been too much rotation at the Cows and Panthers to even rank these guys.

Prior to his injury last year he was one of the best in the comp. He's been getting better recently as well, especially with the amount of try assists he's racking up.

 

[Gaz]

Prior to his injury last year he was one of the best in the comp. He's been getting better recently as well, especially with the amount of try assists he's racking up.

Yes playing well enough to keep Slater out of origin. Then the hammy, at his age - once a hammy always a hammy. Good luck.

 

[Number6]

I was having a think about this and curious to know where people rate Darius in terms of current fullbacks in the NRL.

Is he in the top few, somewhere in the middle of the pecking order, or towards the bottom?

My personal opinion is that there is some daylight between the top 5 (Slater, Trbojevic, Tedesco, Ponga, Tuivasa-Sheck) and the rest. I'd then have Holmes as the first in the chasing pack then probably Hopoate, Johnston and Boyd. Then there's there likes of Gordon, Mbye, Wighton and Gutherson, Dufty as the weaker candidates.
*I have not included Coote, DWZ, Edwards, Peachey, TMM, Hampton because I just think there's been too much rotation at the Cows and Panthers to even rank these guys.

Uninjured Boyd isn’t the top but in the race with those top 5. Running half shot then no where close. If u factor in all guys who can play fullback but don’t (I,e Munster, Milf, Inglis) wouldn’t be top 10 based on this season. Factor in fair chance isn’t getting full legs back hard to see an upside unless heals up very well in offseason.

 

[I bleed Maroon]

If Boyd plays on in 2019 and continues to shit it up, frankly it's all on Bennett. If he of all people gave Boyd the tap on the shoulder in the off season, Darius wouldn't hesitate to give it away.

 

[The True King]

Prior to his injury last year he was one of the best in the comp. He's been getting better recently as well, especially with the amount of try assists he's racking up.

I agree with the sentiment of your post, especially with his recent form improvement. I just don't really know if try assists should be the key metric we measure a fullback by. For example, Boyd has 12 try assists in 22 games while Wighton had 11 in 13 games. Would you take Wighton over Boyd?

Other metrics such as run meters he is 10th behind (in order): Tuivasa-Sheck, Tedesco, Trbojevic, Hopoate, Holmes, Dufty, Mbye, Ponga, Gordon
Tackle busts he is 8th behind (again in order): Ponga, Trbojevic, Tuivasa-Sheck, Dufty, Mbye, Hopoate, Holmes.
Line breaks he is 10th behind: Holmes, Trbojevic, Johnston, Tedesco, Dufty, Ponga, Mbye, Tuivasa-Sheck, Gordon.

I know these are offensive stats and his defensive stats are pretty good compared to the others (which is why I'm not calling for him to be dropped or moved) but they are pretty worrying when you consider he's played every game this season while most the guys above have not.