Super Freak
International Captain
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- Jan 25, 2014
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- #55
DARIUS Boyd isn’t sure if he’s ready to captain the Broncos but what he is certain about is it’s a role he’d “love to do”.
Boyd is a contender to become the 12th skipper of the Broncos and received a glowing endorsement from retired captain Justin Hodges last week.
Hodges anointed Boyd as the man to replace him at the helm of Red Hill, praising his remarkable determination to overcome depression and transform his life.
Coach Wayne Bennett is expected to announce Hodges’ replacement in the new year with Boyd a contender alongside Ben Hunt, Andrew McCullough and veteran forward Corey Parker.
Boyd indicated last season he wasn’t ready for the responsibility of leading the NRL’s glamour club but at 28 and with an 11-week-old daughter, the two-time premiership winner is warming to the thought.
“I’d definitely love to do it. There’s no question about that,” he said.
“I don’t want to do it because it’s an awesome role and a great achievement. I want to do it because I’m the right person and I’m ready.
“I haven’t thought a whole lot about it. I want to have a good pre-season and train hard with the team.
“When February-March rolls around I’ll know more about how I feel about myself and Wayne will have a decision on who he thinks too.
“It’s a huge role for whoever gets it and it’s one you’d definitely cherish.”
Despite missing the first half of the 2015 season with an achilles injury, Boyd emerged as leader and mentor of the Broncos’ young brigade during their charge to the grand final.
He is a different person to the one that polarised the NRL as recently as 18 months ago and Boyd said Hodges’ praise hadn’t gone unnoticed.
“It’s nice to even be thought of,” he said.
“Eighteen months ago I wouldn’t have even been close but having a little one to go home to after the grand final made it a little easier to take the loss. I appreciate things a lot more.
“I still want to achieve a few more things on and off the field but if I was ready and got it I’d definitely take it with both hands.”
It’s been a year since Boyd snapped his achilles during pre-season training and while he hasn’t completely recovered from the major injury, he’s eyeing a much stronger lead-up to 2016.
His combination with Anthony Milford, Hunt and McCullough will prosper with three months of training together, something they couldn’t achieve last year as Boyd sat on the sidelines.
“It happened about eight or nine days into the last pre-season and we’re at the same point now,” Boyd said.
“I didn’t even know half the plays when I came back. I was playing with new fellas in a crucial position.
“You look at Melbourne and the teams that have been great for a number of years, they always have a great spine.
“The boys did an awesome job last year, especially with a couple of new guys in the squad and having a good pre-season together will make it even better.
“I’ve noticed when I have a full pre-season it seems to be one of my better seasons.”
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...s/news-story/367a6df54d3e102c4ac9b03b1ff6e4e1
Boyd is a contender to become the 12th skipper of the Broncos and received a glowing endorsement from retired captain Justin Hodges last week.
Hodges anointed Boyd as the man to replace him at the helm of Red Hill, praising his remarkable determination to overcome depression and transform his life.
Coach Wayne Bennett is expected to announce Hodges’ replacement in the new year with Boyd a contender alongside Ben Hunt, Andrew McCullough and veteran forward Corey Parker.
Boyd indicated last season he wasn’t ready for the responsibility of leading the NRL’s glamour club but at 28 and with an 11-week-old daughter, the two-time premiership winner is warming to the thought.
“I’d definitely love to do it. There’s no question about that,” he said.
“I don’t want to do it because it’s an awesome role and a great achievement. I want to do it because I’m the right person and I’m ready.
“I haven’t thought a whole lot about it. I want to have a good pre-season and train hard with the team.
“When February-March rolls around I’ll know more about how I feel about myself and Wayne will have a decision on who he thinks too.
“It’s a huge role for whoever gets it and it’s one you’d definitely cherish.”
Despite missing the first half of the 2015 season with an achilles injury, Boyd emerged as leader and mentor of the Broncos’ young brigade during their charge to the grand final.
He is a different person to the one that polarised the NRL as recently as 18 months ago and Boyd said Hodges’ praise hadn’t gone unnoticed.
“It’s nice to even be thought of,” he said.
“Eighteen months ago I wouldn’t have even been close but having a little one to go home to after the grand final made it a little easier to take the loss. I appreciate things a lot more.
“I still want to achieve a few more things on and off the field but if I was ready and got it I’d definitely take it with both hands.”
It’s been a year since Boyd snapped his achilles during pre-season training and while he hasn’t completely recovered from the major injury, he’s eyeing a much stronger lead-up to 2016.
His combination with Anthony Milford, Hunt and McCullough will prosper with three months of training together, something they couldn’t achieve last year as Boyd sat on the sidelines.
“It happened about eight or nine days into the last pre-season and we’re at the same point now,” Boyd said.
“I didn’t even know half the plays when I came back. I was playing with new fellas in a crucial position.
“You look at Melbourne and the teams that have been great for a number of years, they always have a great spine.
“The boys did an awesome job last year, especially with a couple of new guys in the squad and having a good pre-season together will make it even better.
“I’ve noticed when I have a full pre-season it seems to be one of my better seasons.”
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...s/news-story/367a6df54d3e102c4ac9b03b1ff6e4e1
