St George Illawarra coach Wayne Bennett has taken the extraordinary step of apologising to journalists after fullback Darius Boyd produced a press conference stonewall to rival the boss.
Boyd delivered one sentence responses to eight questions posed to him at training in Wollongong on Tuesday before the assembled reporters gave up and condemned the Test star for wasting their time.
The 22-year-old’s performance didn’t sit well with Bennett either as the coach reportedly spoke to Boyd about his disrespectful interview and then offered an apology to the gathered press.
Ironically, Boyd’s performance was similar to the contemptuous effort of Bennett in 2007 when he offered one-line responses to questioning in a post-match press conference that was broadcast live on Fox Sports.
Below is a transcript of Boyd’s short press conference in Wollongong on Tuesday:
Q: Up against the Broncos, excited about facing your old mates?
A: Yeah, can’t wait.
Q: That excited?
A: Yep.
Q: Did you watch them play last week?
A: No I didn’t.
Q: What’s the strategy going into the game?
A: We’ll decide that on Wednesday I suppose.
Q: Happy to score another try, it was a good one?
A: Yeah, it was good, eh.
Q: Second one of the season, it’s taken a while, you must be keen to be coming into form at the right time of the season.
A: No it was good.
Q: What are your thoughts on the way your team is going at the moment Darius?
A: Um, yeah, it was pretty good, eh.
Q: Are you fair dinkum?
A: Yeah.
It is not the first time Dragons players have been accused of contempt towards the media, with prop Justin Poore last week slammed for offering a short statement after a successful NRL judiciary hearing that cleared him to play on the weekend.
It is believed Bennett apologised to some reporters for that incident, taking responsibility for their behaviour as he had asked the players not to say too much.
Unfortunately, he later explained, the players thought he meant say nothing at all.
At least in-form five-eighth Jamie Soward offered an insight into the NRL title favourites on Tuesday, giving his first media interview in a few weeks.
While Soward bristled at questions over his own good form, and potential to be included on the Kangaroos end of season tour, he did reveal the Dragons were “filthy” over last Saturday’s loss to Canberra and were looking to rebound against Brisbane at WIN Stadium on Friday night.
“Every time you lose it’s a bad thing and for us we went down there and got beat and we have moved on,” said Soward.
“I think the Dragons of old might have dwelled on that and let it affect us for a couple of days.
“But we had a few days off and you just watched training this morning, we were pretty sharp.”
The clash with Brisbane is vitally important for both clubs – a win would put the Dragons closer to the minor premiership while the Broncos simply must win to retain their place in the top eight.
“Brisbane are always a dangerous team and obviously they will be up to try and prove something to Benny (former coach Bennett),” said Soward.
Teams named on Tuesday for round 24 of the NRL
FRIDAY
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS v BRISBANE BRONCOS at WIN Stadium, 7.35pm
DRAGONS: Darius Boyd, Brett Morris, Beau Scott, Matt Cooper, Wendell Sailor, Jamie Soward, Ben Hornby (capt), Justin Poore, Dean Young, Michael Weyman, Matt Prior, Ben Creagh, Neville Costigan. Interchange: Dan Hunt, Jeremy Smith, Nathan Fien, Jarrod Saffy, Jon Green, Jason Nightingale (two to be omitted)
BRONCOS: Karmichael Hunt, Antonio Winterstein, Alex Glenn, Justin Hodges, Jharal Yow Yeh, Darren Lockyer (capt), Peter Wallace, Nick Kenny, Andrew McCullough, David Taylor, Tonie Carroll, Sam Thaiday, Corey Parker. Interchange: Lagi Setu, Ben Teo, Josh McGuire, Ashton Sims.
Referees: Shayne Hayne, Ben CumminsWESTS TIGERS v PARRAMATTA EELS at Sydney Football Stadium, 7.35pm
TIGERS: Tim Moltzen, Taniela Tuiaki, Blake Ayshford, Chris Lawrence, Beau Ryan, Benji Marshall, Robert Lui, Bryce Gibbs, Robbie Farah (capt), Todd Payten, Gareth Ellis, Danny Galea, Chris Heighington. Interchange: John Morris, Corey Payne, Alan Schirnack, Keith Galloway
EELS: Jarryd Hayne, Luke Burt, Krisnan Inu, Joel Reddy, Eric Grothe, Daniel Mortimer, Jeff Robson, Nathan Cayless (capt), Matthew Keating, Fuifui Moimoi, Nathan Hindmarsh, Joe Galuvao, Todd Lowrie. Interchange: Kevin Kingston, Ben Smith, Tim Mannah, Jeremy Latimore.
Referees: Tony Archer, Jared MaxwellSATURDAY
NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS v NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS at EnergyAustralia Stadium, 5.30pm
KNIGHTS: Kurt Gidley (capt), Keith Lulia, Junior Sau, Adam MacDougall, Cooper Vuna, Ben Rogers, Jarrod Mullen, Mark Taufua, Isaac DeGois, Chris Houston, Steve Simpson, Zeb Taia, Matt Hilder. Interchange: Wes Naiqama, Marvin Karawana, Richie Fa’aoso, Danny Wicks, Cory Paterson (one to be omitted).
COWBOYS: Matthew Bowen, Ty Williams, Ashley Graham, Willie Tonga, Michael Bani, Grant Rovelli, Johnathan Thurston (capt), Shane Tronc, Anthony Watts, Matthew Scott, Carl Webb, Scott Bolton, Luke O’Donnell. Interchange: Travis Burns, Steve Southern, Antonio Kaufusi, Manase Manuokafoa, Ben Harris, Steve Rapira (two to be omitted).
Referees: Jason Robinson, Ashley KleinPENRITH PANTHERS v SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS at CUA Stadium, 7.30pm
PANTHERS: Jarrod Sammut, Junior Tia Kilifi, Michael Jennings, Brad Tighe, Michael Gordon, Wade Graham, Luke Walsh, Frank Puletua, Paul Aiton, Matthew Bell, Trent Waterhouse (capt), Frank Pritchard, Luke Lewis. Interchange: Nathan Smith, Gavin Cooper, Joseph Paulo, Maurice Blair, Adam Woolnough, Tim Grant (two to be omitted).
RABBITOHS: Nathan Merritt, Jamie Simpson, Colin Best, Junior Vaivai, Chris McQueen, John Sutton, Chris Sandow, Luke Stuart (capt), Issac Luke, Scott Geddes, Ben Lowe, Eddy Pettybourne, David Fa’alogo. Interchange: Beau Falloon, Shannan McPherson, Dave Tyrrell, Jaiman Lowe.
Referees: Gavin Badger, Bernard SuttonSUNDAY
WARRIORS v CANBERRA RAIDERS at Mt Smart Stadium, 12pm
WARRIORS: Wade McKinnon, Kevin Locke, Jerome Ropati, Joel Moon, Manu Vatuvei, Aaron Heremaia, Stacey Jones, Sam Rapira, Ian Henderson, Steve Price (capt), Simon Mannering, Ukuma Ta’ai, Micheal Luck. Interchange: Lance Hohaia, Evarn Tuimavave, Russell Packer, Jacob Lillyman, Lewis Brown (one to be omitted).
RAIDERS: Josh Dugan, Daniel Vidot, Jarrod Croker, Joel Monaghan, Phil Graham, Terry Campese, Josh McCrone, Dane Tilse, Alan Tongue (capt), Tom Learoyd-Lars, Joel Thompson, Bronson Harrison, Josh Miller. Interchange: Trevor Thurling, Travis Waddell, Troy Thompson, Joe Picker
Referees: Matt Cecchin, Adam DevcichGOLD COAST TITANS v CRONULLA SHARKS at Skilled Park, 2pm
TITANS: William Zillman, Kevin Gordon, Mat Rogers, Jordan Atkins, David Mead, Preston Campbell, Scott Prince (capt), Luke Bailey (capt), Nathan Friend, Michael Henderson, Anthony Laffranchi, Mark Minichiello, Josh Graham. Interchange: Matthew White, Will Matthews, Brad Meyers, Sam Tagataese, Luke O’Dwyer (one to be omitted)
SHARKS: Nathan Stapleton, Blake Ferguson, Ben Pomeroy, Mitch Brown, Luke Covell (capt), Matt Wright, Scott Porter, Kade Snowden, Corey Hughes, Luke Douglas, Grant Millington, Anthony Tupou, Paul Gallen. Interchange: Ian Donnelly, Tim Weyman, Jak Afamasaga, Lancen Joudo.
Referees: Steve Lyons, Gerard SuttonMELBOURNE STORM v MANLY SEA EAGLES at Olympic Park, 3pm
STORM: Billy Slater, Steve Turner, Will Chambers, Dane Nielsen, Brett Anderson, Brett Finch, Cooper Cronk, Scott Anderson, Cam Smith (capt), Brett White, Aiden Tolman, Ryan Hoffman, Dallas Johnson. Interchange: Ryan Hinchcliffe, Adam Blair, Ryan Tandy, Jeff Lima.
SEA EAGLES: Michael Robertson, Ben Farrar, Jamie Lyon, Steve Matai, David Williams, Kieran Foran, Matt Orford (capt), Jason King, Matt Ballin, Josh Perry, Anthony Watmough, Chris Bailey, Glenn Stewart. Interchange: Heath L’Estrange, Brent Kite, George Rose, Glenn Hall, Shane Rodney (one to be omitted).
Referees: Tony Archer, Shayne HayneMONDAY
BULLDOGS v SYDNEY ROOSTERS at ANZ Stadium, 7pm
BULLDOGS: Luke Patten, Hazem El Masri, Josh Morris, Jamal Idris, Bryson Goodwin, Ben Roberts, Brett Kimmorley, Jarrad Hickey, Michael Ennis, Michael Hodgson, Greg Eastwood, Andrew Ryan (capt), David Stagg. Interchange: Brad Morrin, Chris Armit, Gary Warburton, Yileen Gordon.
ROOSTERS: Sam Perrett, Iwi Hauraki, Mitchell Aubusson, Setaimata Sa, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Anthony Minichiello, Mitchell Pearce, Frank-Paul Nuuausala, Jake Friend, Shane Shackleton, Sia Soliola, Willie Mason, Craig Fitzgibbon (capt). Interchange: Stanley Waqa, Nate Myles, Riley Brown, Ben Jones.
Referees: Jared Maxwell, Chris James
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