A few hours after Wayne Bennett made his decision to leave Newcastle at the end of the season, Knights fullback Darius Boyd notified the club that he too would be leaving.
So is Darius the most loyal player in rugby league, or the most disloyal?
On one hand, his loyalty to the man who made him a star, Bennett, has been second to none. Boyd’s contract at each club has contained a clause that allows him to follow Bennett should the supercoach move.
On the other hand, Boyd’s lack of loyalty to the struggling Knights has some fans fuming.
The Broncos are unbackable favourites to welcome the Origin and Test winger back to the club, but do the Broncos really need another fullback?
With Canberra superstar Anthony Milford headed North for 2015 and beyond, Ben Barba looks like he may need to shift to five-eighth, a position currently filled by another fullback in Josh Hoffman.
If Boyd were to return to Brisbane, he may find himself on the wing, making him the highest paid winger in the game.
The Broncos may need to say goodbye to either Dale Copley or Daniel Vidot to secure Boyd, however surely the likes of Jordan Kahu, Jack Reed or perhaps even Hoffman will be tapped on the shoulder as the Broncos struggle to fit Boyd into the salary cap.
Having already signed Milford and hulking Storm prop Mitch Garbutt to big deals, it’s hard to see the Brisbane side squeezing a player of Boyd’s stature into the squad without having to shed two or three others.
Boyd will likely only want to play for the Broncos, however there is a very real chance that Brisbane may either not want him, or have the money to accommodate his signing.
With the Bulldogs and Raiders in the market for a quality fullback, the Raiders being cashed up, this may be the biggest test of Boyd’s loyalty to the man he has played under his entire career.
Albo
Guest
Except he is chocker block full of angry pills ! And demonstrates the folly of getting rid of corporal punishment in schools !
soapit
Guest
thought about this last night as well and this might work as a one off but if i was doing the same thing every two years in a fairly closed industry it would cause problems. companies would start preferring people who see out their contract or stay for a reasonable amount of time. not sure the buniess sport direct comparison works too well, its a very diffferent kind of business to most
AR
Guest
The way Boyd carries on with these contracts is a complete farce. It's staggering the clubs accept it.
Paul
Roar Rookie
Where's the loyalty to Anthony Griffin. Seems only high profile players get labelled as disloyal if they want to leave a club, yet a club will punt a coach or a player they don't want, like Bennett will when he gets to the Broncos and its a non issue in the media.
soapit
Guest
depends if i'd signed a set contract for a set period (and how much extra we're talking about).
soapit
Guest
not that badly we dont thanks
soapit
Guest
i dont see wayne feeling a great expectation that boyd will follow him around so i dont see him thinking boyd as disloyal if he grows up and finds himself as his own man. given that i dont think anyone else should class it as him being disloyal to wayne either
soapit
Guest
if he doesnt want to do interviews then dont do them. people react to him agreeing to do them and then completely wasting people time. he should remember those people are partenrs in the same industry that pays him
Statler and Waldorf
Roar Guru
League is a club based game - he has been disloyal to all of the clubs that he has played for
nerval
Guest
The profile of Boyd's club is unlikely to be heightened in any way, shape and form by a dim-witted journalist door-stepping Boyd and asking him anything. Boyd, like a number of rugby league players, has not had the privileged upbringing that the likes of Fitzsimons are able to give to his own children - this still doesn't give Fitzy the right publicly to call Boyd a "turd." Maybe the latter's own children will grow up to be a little less "rude" than their father? Who knows? What I do know is that Boyd should refuse to be bullied into talking to journalists who either ask inane questions or compare him to a piece of s**t.
Bronco Country
Guest
We don't need or want Boyd. I felt Griffiths had to go but also wanted a younger more innovative coach than Bennett but I also hope this new deal allows Walters to step into the frame seamlessly. Boyd is baggage we don't need. Give Bennett a chance to develop Milford at five eight , restore barbas confidence at no 1 and for goodness sake resign hunt and this will be a good football team !!!
Bronco Country
Guest
Hahahaaa
Greg
Guest
To be fair on Darius since he was a young bloke he has been a father to him. remembering that Boyd was pretty much raised by his grand mother and having no father figure. Apart from the toilet incident with Hunt and Thaiday has been raised a pretty good bloke
bangbang
Guest
Hahaha, good one. I had a laugh. Let's hope lol
JOHNY
Guest
Yep mate totally agree!
Trent
Guest
Hahahahahaha! The Bulldogs wouldn't welcome Barba back if they were paid to have him.
Roarsome
Guest
The Broncos could afford the Kangaroos team and a 2nd Australian team as reserves if they wanted to.......and there was no Salary Cap.
Boomeranda
Guest
I'm tired of the word "loyalty" in professional sport. It's a business! Would you not leave your place of work to accept a better offer? Loyalty can only come into play when there is no benefits involved.
Jay h
Guest
Dogs need a fullback
Jay h
Guest
Boyd should come to the bulldogs more chance winning a comp under Hasler ! Top forward pack