Super Freak
International Captain
Forum Staff
- Jan 25, 2014
- 44,116
- 33,255
DARIUS Boyd may sparkle on the field but the 10th captain of the Brisbane Broncos knows he is not yet a perfectly cut diamond.
Boyd walked into the biggest announcement of his life on Wednesday wearing Matt Gillett’s suit and Jordan Kahu’s shirt.
Losing his team suit sometime between last year’s Brisbane Broncos presentation dinner and Wednesday’s captaincy announcement was a situation the “old Darius” would have found himself in.
“I was stressing out,” Boyd said.
“I was angry at myself because that was something I would have done in the past.
“These days I’m a lot more on track and know what I’m doing. It’s funny now but it wasn’t funny at the time.”
Boyd, 29, was once one of rugby league’s most maligned players, impossible for fans to warm to despite the incredible talent that made him a State of Origin star.
The run-ins with reporters painted the picture of an angry young man and Boyd admits that’s exactly what he was.
His light bulb moment arrived while at Newcastle Knights in 2014 when Boyd decided to he had to confront the demons he had carried from his younger years.
To this day Boyd doesn’t know his father. He was raised by his grandmother Delphine on the Gold Coast and had little to do with his mother until reconnecting with her as part of his rehabilitation.
“I just wasn’t happy,” Boyd said.
“I remembered playing footy for fun as a kid. I got to a point where I wasn’t enjoying it anymore and I was an angry person but I didn’t know why.
“The way I was acting wasn’t great. I knew something was wrong and I needed help.
“A lot of stuff from childhood (was affecting me). I was quiet, shy and didn’t trust people.
“I’d cut people off and not give them the benefit of the doubt.
“I didn’t handle the media or fans well. I didn’t know how to.
“It got out of control to the point where I was angry and acting out which was affecting relationships and family. It got too big.”
Few understand the journey Boyd has taken — from repeating Year 12 in the hope of landing an NRL contract to being crowned Broncos captain — better than coach Wayne Bennett.
“I said to him when we were walking over who would have thought he’d be captain of the Broncos,” Bennett said.
“When he first came here he was tentative, a little bit awkward and introverted.
“We’ve all got a journey and got to our stations in life by different things that have happened to us. His was a lot tougher than a lot of us.
“That makes it remarkable. The way he’s come through it and the way we all see him today.
“I’m really proud of him. I’ve always been proud of him.
“There’s no one in the club that doesn’t think he should be the captain.”
Boyd never captained the Mudgeeraba Redbacks or Palm Beach Currumbin High School.
Responsibility was something that did not sit well with him until he and wife Kayla welcomed daughter Willow, now 16 months old, after Boyd returned to Brisbane in 2015.
Bennett knew he wanted Boyd to lead the Broncos this year and gave him time to prepare for the role.
“I told him 12 months ago he’d be captain,” Bennett said.
“Because he’s introverted it’s just not straightforward for him. He’s not going to grab it, jump all over you and say ‘thanks a lot for what you’ve just done for me’.
“I’m one of those as well. It’s got to sink in, you’ve got to make sure it’s what you want to do and you’re comfortable with it.
“I wanted to give him that time and start to position himself for what was coming. He had to feel it, know he wanted it and could handle the difficult parts that could come with it.
“He’s ready for it.”
Boyd’s name is now etched alongside some of the game’s greatest players including Wally Lewis, Darren Lockyer, Allan Langer and Kevin Walters.
He broke down describing what the job meant to him following his turbulent life, but promised to give it everything he has.
“I couldn’t get it out of my head,” Boyd said of Bennett’s proposition.
“It was something I probably wrestled with for a while. I wasn’t sure if I was the right person and if I could do it.
“I’m a happier person now. I’m more family orientated. I’m really enjoying life and that’s showing on the footy field.
“I’ve been a Broncos fan since I was a six-year-old boy. To be here now is easily my best achievement in rugby league.
“I want to make sure I lead the team well into the future.”
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...l/news-story/242877bfed2fdf3d113b481467fdda6a
Boyd walked into the biggest announcement of his life on Wednesday wearing Matt Gillett’s suit and Jordan Kahu’s shirt.
Losing his team suit sometime between last year’s Brisbane Broncos presentation dinner and Wednesday’s captaincy announcement was a situation the “old Darius” would have found himself in.
“I was stressing out,” Boyd said.
“I was angry at myself because that was something I would have done in the past.
“These days I’m a lot more on track and know what I’m doing. It’s funny now but it wasn’t funny at the time.”
Boyd, 29, was once one of rugby league’s most maligned players, impossible for fans to warm to despite the incredible talent that made him a State of Origin star.
The run-ins with reporters painted the picture of an angry young man and Boyd admits that’s exactly what he was.
His light bulb moment arrived while at Newcastle Knights in 2014 when Boyd decided to he had to confront the demons he had carried from his younger years.
To this day Boyd doesn’t know his father. He was raised by his grandmother Delphine on the Gold Coast and had little to do with his mother until reconnecting with her as part of his rehabilitation.
“I just wasn’t happy,” Boyd said.
“I remembered playing footy for fun as a kid. I got to a point where I wasn’t enjoying it anymore and I was an angry person but I didn’t know why.
“The way I was acting wasn’t great. I knew something was wrong and I needed help.
“A lot of stuff from childhood (was affecting me). I was quiet, shy and didn’t trust people.
“I’d cut people off and not give them the benefit of the doubt.
“I didn’t handle the media or fans well. I didn’t know how to.
“It got out of control to the point where I was angry and acting out which was affecting relationships and family. It got too big.”
Few understand the journey Boyd has taken — from repeating Year 12 in the hope of landing an NRL contract to being crowned Broncos captain — better than coach Wayne Bennett.
“I said to him when we were walking over who would have thought he’d be captain of the Broncos,” Bennett said.
“When he first came here he was tentative, a little bit awkward and introverted.
“We’ve all got a journey and got to our stations in life by different things that have happened to us. His was a lot tougher than a lot of us.
“That makes it remarkable. The way he’s come through it and the way we all see him today.
“I’m really proud of him. I’ve always been proud of him.
“There’s no one in the club that doesn’t think he should be the captain.”
Boyd never captained the Mudgeeraba Redbacks or Palm Beach Currumbin High School.
Responsibility was something that did not sit well with him until he and wife Kayla welcomed daughter Willow, now 16 months old, after Boyd returned to Brisbane in 2015.
Bennett knew he wanted Boyd to lead the Broncos this year and gave him time to prepare for the role.
“I told him 12 months ago he’d be captain,” Bennett said.
“Because he’s introverted it’s just not straightforward for him. He’s not going to grab it, jump all over you and say ‘thanks a lot for what you’ve just done for me’.
“I’m one of those as well. It’s got to sink in, you’ve got to make sure it’s what you want to do and you’re comfortable with it.
“I wanted to give him that time and start to position himself for what was coming. He had to feel it, know he wanted it and could handle the difficult parts that could come with it.
“He’s ready for it.”
Boyd’s name is now etched alongside some of the game’s greatest players including Wally Lewis, Darren Lockyer, Allan Langer and Kevin Walters.
He broke down describing what the job meant to him following his turbulent life, but promised to give it everything he has.
“I couldn’t get it out of my head,” Boyd said of Bennett’s proposition.
“It was something I probably wrestled with for a while. I wasn’t sure if I was the right person and if I could do it.
“I’m a happier person now. I’m more family orientated. I’m really enjoying life and that’s showing on the footy field.
“I’ve been a Broncos fan since I was a six-year-old boy. To be here now is easily my best achievement in rugby league.
“I want to make sure I lead the team well into the future.”
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...l/news-story/242877bfed2fdf3d113b481467fdda6a
