Darius Boyd has never really been a big talker. Whether it’s been on or off the field, the custodian has always led by his actions, not his words. And there’s a good chance that trend could continue this season.
Being named Brisbane’s captain puts Boyd in elite company, joining the likes of Wally Lewis, Darren Lockyer and Alfie Langer as a leader of the club. Since Lockyer’s retirement in 2011, the likes of Sam Thaiday, Justin Hodges, Alex Glenn and, most recently, Corey Parker have led the side, to varying success. Where Darius fits in is as good a question as ever.
When it comes to the media, the Kangaroo’s custodian has never really been one to co-operate. He was fined by St. George in 2009 for only offering one sentence, some even single worded responses in a press conference, and drew scrutiny in 2014 by simply ignoring a reporter and walking off. Only just over two years ago, Boyd’s maturity will be tested this year.
While he’s performed brilliantly on the field recently, the last few years haven’t been easy on the man. He spent weeks in a clinic in 2014 being treated for depression, and earlier this year wife Kayla revealed the couple lost two babies in 2016. While the fullback has endured some immense pain, it’s these kinds of events that really shape a man.
Darius wasn’t the only horse in the race for the captaincy, with Andrew McCullough, Ben Hunt and Sam Thaiday also in the running for the job. Hunt’s departure for the Red V narrowed it down, while Thaiday’s age was a factor to him not being selected, but McCullough was a big chance.
Playing the entirety of his career at Red Hill, the hooker was the first person born in the 1990s to feature in the NRL when he debuted in 2008. At 27 years-old and 197 NRL games under his belt, McCullough is a big chance of playing 300 games, and will undoubtedly be gutted upon missing out on the job.
Boyd made his captaincy debut last weekend in the World Club Challenge, with Brisbane becoming the first club in five years to lose to a Super League side, with Warrington running out 27-18 winners. Boyd simply failed to inspire his men, with the boys from Brisbane trailing 24-6 at half time. If Wayne Bennett wants the Broncos to contend for the title this year, he needs a talker.
Boyd is the man that sits back in the change room, listens to what the men in charge have to say, and goes out and puts in a man of the match performance. Players will follow his actions, but more than actions they need to be inspired. To be told what to do. They need someone to tell them, ‘it’s just one try’. ‘We can come back from this’. ‘The game isn’t over yet’. In a team of youngsters, the squad needs to have that extra lift, the pep talk. Darius just doesn’t appear up to it.
At the end of the day, Boyd is a premiership, State of Origin and World Cup winning fullback. A truly exceptional player in the modern day. But is he a leader? Only time can tell.
