Veteran Darius Boyd says Brisbane deserved to be booed by fans before their shock loss to Gold Coast but has defended their under-fire halves.
Boos echoed around Suncorp Stadium before Brisbane were upset 30-12.
But the former Brisbane skipper bristled when the finger was pointed at their under-fire halves Brodie Croft and Anthony Milford on Saturday.
A brutally honest Boyd couldn’t hide his embarrassment after the Broncos were jeered off the field when they slumped to a shock 22-0 halftime deficit before succumbing to a fifth straight loss.
“That is the first time I have ever seen a Brisbane side booed off the field at halftime at Suncorp Stadium,” ashen-faced former captain Justin Hodges told Fox Sports.
Boyd appeared just as shellshocked by the crowd’s reaction after the game.
“That was very frustrating. It hurts but they probably have a right – it was 22-0 at halftime,” he said.
“The most disappointing thing was to get booed off at halftime, your own fans are booing you off.
“It was the first crowd we had at Suncorp all year (due to coronavirus).
“All our families were there. To put in a performance like that, it’s disappointing.”
Pressure is mounting on coach Anthony Seibold after six-time premiers Brisbane’s freefall from fifth to second-last in the space of five weeks following the Titans upset.
However, the blowtorch has also been applied to the Broncos halves after they again failed to fire a shot against the Titans who started the game rooted to the foot of the NRL ladder.
Seibold admitted he may have to reassess his attack after it was “really frantic” against the Titans.
“We’ll have to take a look at that. We are down on confidence with regards to our attack,” he said.
But Boyd did not think Croft and halves partner Milford were doing much wrong judging by his spirited defence of the pair when they were questioned by media on Saturday.
Young playmaker Tom Dearden was injected on to the Broncos bench against the Titans, sparking speculation the move was made to put Brisbane’s halves on notice despite Seibold claiming the 19-year-old was simply a hooker back-up for veteran rake Issac Luke.
However, Boyd gave an uncharacteristically prickly response when asked if Dearden’s selection was meant to keep Croft and Milford on their toes.
“We will win games when we defend well. Our two halves are our best players when we defend well so you can stop asking those questions,” he said bluntly.
“Defence is what wins games and premierships. Our defence is not where it needs to be right now for whatever reason but we just need to stick solid as a group.”
Superspud
Roar Rookie
The score would only be mirrored by the wages.
Succhi
Roar Rookie
The buck stops with Seibold and Lockyer. Seibold has been determined to change everything and bring in “new ideas,” and Lockyer has been just as determined to get acknowledged as a administrator/board member and is influencing the board. Both are rookies, ignoring fans, ignore advice and refuse to admit they were wrong. Something’s gotta give soon.
Simoc
Guest
Surely Boyd is the problem. With a leader like him no wonder you're losing by 50 regularly. He needed to retire two years back. His form wouldn't warrant a start in any other team.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Yeah I know, just taking the micky
Scott
Guest
He's more a Queenslander that Inglis. Is Don is good, particularly in Maroon
Chris.P.Bacon
Guest
"I nominate the Don for the QLD team." ...I think you'll find that Anthony Don is a NSW product Rellum. Born in Manly and played his junior footy in Grafton. His grandfather was Ron Willey - a good Canterbury lad. ;)
Rellum
Roar Guru
It would be a thrashing.
Rellum
Roar Guru
We had two wins. Plus I nominate the Don for the QLD team.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
At least a QLD team got up Rellum. We gotta take the wins where we can get em.
kk
Roar Pro
As a ringmaster at the Cirque d'league you had best get the best from your performers or get a proper job, severance pay enclosed. With that talent in the squad, Dean would simply just do it.
Paul
Roar Guru
I think the art of the interview is lost these days. It was totally appropriate to ask Boyd what he and the players felt as they were being booed off their home stadium, but to then talk about how the team was going and whether changes were needed, was completely silly. Boyd was left in a no-win situation where he had to stick up for his team mates. If he doesn't, he's seen as both shafting them and making it clear he doesn't support his coaches selections. This is the obvious question to ask Seibold, not a current player
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
Terrible. Even the cardboard cutouts were booing them.
Nat
Roar Rookie
I hope Pay can get more out of them than Seibold is.
Walter Black
Guest
I agree but who else do you interview ? Boyd and Milf seemed like the only players who gave a damn. And its a case of another week another excuse from Seibold.
kk
Roar Pro
With respect to our current list, I would welcome #'s 1,3,5,10,12, 13, 14, 17 and DF to Belmore. We have seen glimpses of what they are capable of. I find it hard to accept that the absence of Fifita means they can't function.
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
209 points conceded in 7 games. Can you make the top eight conceding 30 points a game? No.
LeftRight
Guest
My observations of the Broncos are that despite their 2 wins in the opening rounds of 2020, they have not fixed their problems from 2019, despite some recruitment changes. Their for and against at the end of the regular season in 2019 going into the finals was the worst of the final 8. And unsurprisingly they were bundled out in the first week of the finals. In 2020 to date their for and against is -117, by far the worst of the bottom 8. In 2019 the Broncos defended very poorly and couldn't score tries, in 2020 the Broncos are defending poorly and can't score tries. Nothing's changed at all! Frankly it's hard to identify a real fix (although I don't think Milford delivers), on paper they're pretty good, on the paddock they're absolute crap. Siebold clearly isn't a miracle coach, but obviously he's not on the field missing tackles, dropping the ball, getting sent off while in possession of the ball. I hope they come good, but based on last year and this year to date, they wouldn't even win the Wooden Spoon.
John
Guest
Boyd is right in that they need to get their defence right first. That said, that what’s been needed for the last 5 weeks / last season etc. I agree that it is unfair to expect the team to perform like a top tier team given their experience and games together. However, their effort in running hard in attack and line speed in defence in just not good enough at the moment and that comes down to desire.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
The club might be doing OK now if instead of having Darius lurking about the place for the last couple of years on huge money and being made the leader, if he had been a fan rather than a player. If his money could have gone to a genuine star with leadership qualities they may well be in great shape now. They need at least one play maker who is dominant and not second guessing himself.
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
No, I mean the 98 grand final side containing Lockyer, Sailor, Renouf, Langer, Walters, Webcke, Thorn, Tallis, Civoneciva, etc. My point being that they would beat the current side by 70 points or more, showing how far Brisbane has slipped since those days.