Matt Gillett has endorsed Darius Boyd’s credentials to take over as Brisbane’s NRL captain in 2017.
Boyd is favoured among a number of potential skippers including Sam Thaiday, Adam Blair, Ben Hunt and Andrew McCullough to take over in the wake of Corey Parker’s retirement last season.
“He (Boyd) has come a long way,” said Gillett at training on Wednesday.
“Darius is such a great leader and he’s been showing that for the last couple of years – especially in the representative arena as well.”
Boyd, Gillett and the rest of the Broncos’ Four Nations representatives returned to training for the 2017 pre-season on Thursday.
It’s unclear when coach Wayne Bennett will unveil the side’s new skipper, however he waited until a week out from the 2016 season before announcing Parker’s elevation to the captaincy.
Regardless, Boyd is the first to admit it would represent a significant turnaround in his career, after he was once an often-maligned player at both NRL and representative level.
“It’s something that I would probably have never thought about a few years ago to be honest,” he said.
“I probably wasn’t in the position.
“If I got that captaincy it would be something I would have to pinch myself – I would be pretty honoured.”
Boyd is contending to become the third Broncos skipper in three years, after Justin Hodges also retired after taking on the sole captaincy role in 2015.
“It’s a huge job,” Boyd said.
“It’s one of the biggest, if not the biggest in rugby league.
“Especially to captain the Broncos who have such great history and have had so many great players who have gone before and had so much success as captain.”
Unlike his recent predecessors, at 29, Boyd appears to have several season left in the game and he shows no signs of slowing down.
He scored nine tries in 2016 – his second highest haul since 2009 – and considered it his “most complete” season.
“Especially with the rep side of things,” he said.
“I was really happy and especially playing fullback gave me a chance to play my preferred position and see what I could do on that stage.”
Boyd backed the Broncos to return to the top four in 2017 after they slipped to fifth last year, when he admitted they perhaps played with the heartbreak of the 2015 golden-point grand final loss to North Queensland still lingering.
“It might have been in the back of our minds maybe,” he said.
“I think this year, a new year, a lot of new guys to the club.
“I know I’m personally feeling really excited about the season and what we can do and what we can achieve.”
Craig
Guest
Thaiday was captain previously and he was terrible.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
Knights Glebe for me.
Big Willy
Guest
The fish rots from the head. IMO Sam Thaiday is the most inspirational player at the Broncos and is worshipped by the fans as a result; once upon a time Bennett would've been clever enough to mold him into the role (instead of favouring Boyd out of loyalty for following him to Dragons and Knights), eg Sam showing more maturity in media interviews instead of cracking funnnies. A faltering Broncos in 2017 will see Bennett consider his future and bow out gracefully with the usual cliches, because they would never sack him (and rightly so given the premierships he delivered them).
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
Boyd was light years ahead of his old form when it came to the media last year. can't recall one sour head or one worded answer.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
Might not be a problem with the other hemisphere seemingly trying to put a stop to anything he tries to do. He'll either walk out or simply won't have anything to do until the end of the year the rate it's going.
Jacko
Guest
I wish Gillett would throw a lot more than his weight at Boyd. What next?? Fifita for captain at Cronulla?
Oingo Boingo
Guest
I'm with old mate here MAX I don't think your lot will go too well with the old fella dividing his time in two hemispheres. I'm wearing my heart on my sleeve here , but I genuinely think the chooks will get back with a bang and paying good odds .
Gaz
Guest
Correct - Thaiday was an awful captain and admitted he wasn't finding it easy. But too many here are remembering Boyd of old and "that" interview. He has shown during the past year he can handle the media and for those that attend a match will tell you he is directing players around the field all of the game. Does anyone seriously think Bennett will not pick Boyd as captain? The only way Darius Boyd will not captain the Brisbane Broncos in 2017 and beyond is if he declines to do so.
kk
Roar Pro
Sorry Renegade. The Broncos got the "struggle" out of their system in 2016. I expect this year to be relatively smooth with the Hunt /Milford combo in gear.
Craig
Guest
Boyds ability in the media should discount him immediately. Being an on-field leader is one thing, but being captain carries a lot of responsibilities in addition to the on-field leadership. There's no way he should be captain, ever. Ben Hunt should be captain by now (if he had developed as expected) but since dropping the grand final he hasn't been the same. I wouldn't want to load him up with more pressure. Glenn or McCullough. Thaiday was an awful captain.
kk
Roar Pro
Renegade, the trifectas are all at 30/1 so I take all 3. If Souths display the same spirit as 3 Hats they will make the 8. At $2.10 a good bet.
Renegade
Roar Guru
I think the Broncos will struggle to make the 8 MAX. Storm-Raiders is a better bet.
Mike Dugg
Guest
To quote Darius himself, Boyd being made captain is 'not bad aye'
kk
Roar Pro
Oingo,you funny fella. Buses are a fire hazard and are not allowed on ANZ arena. GF 2017.Raiders v Broncos or Storm. Do yourself a favour a Quinella the three.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Boyd is a gun fullback and has made great steps forward in tidying up his off field reputation and image after some pretty poor performances over the years. But without knowing what happens behind closed doors I don't see him as a great leader. I reckon the Broncos could do worse than giving the (c) to Gillett.
Albo
Guest
Boyd had his best season yet in 2016 and is a very good fullback. But not sure he is leadership material ? I think it may be a case of there being very few options for the job at the Broncos at present ? There doesn't appear to be any natural captains ( like a Wally or a Locky) in the current squad. Andrew McCullough might be my choice of that current squad. His high work rate and leadership around the rucks gives them direction and he can at least string some sentences together at press conferences !
Oingo Boingo
Guest
Onto the spectator bus ? Do you mean , Max .
andrew
Guest
Gillett is a very good player (lets ease up on throwing the word great around). He doesn't strike me as a genius by any stretch and not someone who is regularly quoted so while carrying some stock, i don't know that his opinion matters anymore than the next players. That said, Brisbane are a little devoid of leaders at the moment. Thaiday has decided he wants to position himself as a clown thinking that will provide him with a career after football perhaps, and that is fine, its his life. But it's a shame, because he is clearly quite quick witted and thus a quick thinker which would be a useful trait for a captain.
Baz
Guest
9 trys in a season is not heaps for a quality fullback who plays soo but he is a good player.
Baz
Guest
what happens if bennet retires what will he do ? retire too ?