Brisbane veteran Darius Boyd’s return to fullback in Friday’s NRL match against Cronulla couldn’t have gone any better – except for the result.
The 33-year-old looked a different player for the Broncos in the number one jersey at Suncorp Stadium.
Providing a calm head to Brisbane’s troubled back line, Boyd was constantly in the right place at the right time to defuse multiple Sharks attacks.
In attack, four try assists says it all with the ex-Queensland and Australia representative pivotal in the Broncos moving to a 26-18 lead with just over ten minutes to play.
It should have been a match-winning hand.
Instead that advantage had become a 36-26 defeat by full-time as the Sharks stormed home with three tries in eight minutes.
Brisbane’s ninth defeat in ten matches leaves the 15th-placed club perilously close to the bottom of the ladder.
It also means another week at least of heartache for Boyd despite his own personal transformation.
“Winning’s contagious and losing’s contagious too,” Boyd said.
“At the moment we’re finding ways to lose.
“We’re either being played off the park and we’re completely not good enough or we put in a real strong performance for 40 or 50 or 60 and we find a way.”
There’s little respite for the struggling Broncos with former mentor Wayne Bennett’s South Sydney up next.
Under-fire coach Anthony Seibold said Boyd’s display at fullback after weeks of pleading to be moved back to his preferred position, would almost certainly ensure Boyd retains that role for future weeks.
“He’s been wanting to play fullback for a little while,” Seibold said.
“I think he’s been doing a fantastic job at left centre for us, particularly defensively, but yeah he was, he was very good on both sides of the footy (on Friday).”
elvis
Roar Rookie
I'm alive and well and hiding out in Brisbane!
farkurnell
Roar Rookie
Albo ,a lots been said about the Broncs resilience in defence, but very little about the Sharks attacking brilliance.The Treacy Try - most NRL teams would have struggled to defend that play.
Albo
Roar Rookie
The game was the Broncos for the taking and I was looking like a genius for tipping them in my tipping comp. Only 10 minutes to finish the Sharks off. They had the ball on the Sharks line and Milford put in that awful kick that gave the Sharks their first sniff , with a 7 tackle set. But the Broncos survived that. Then they got the next kick right and pinned the Sharks down to a drop out. Then Dearden made that dreadful blunder from the drop out giving the Sharks the ball back with 8 minutes to go? I'm sure " the big guy in the sky" just thought, these Broncos just aren't ready to win yet ?
farkurnell
Roar Rookie
Maybe if they used Staggs with the word brilliant might be more appropriate.IMO the MOM in a beaten side.
farkurnell
Roar Rookie
I thought chips are what the gulls eat at Bondi beach
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
No effort in the last line is pretty harsh. He made a fair few strong tackles on his line and sat a bloke with 20 kilos on him down on his rear 2 metres out. The go ahead try (when it mattered) was simply Coates not trusting Staggs to make the tackle. They had the numbers.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
To be continued...
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
I can use "age" as an excuse Elvis. I loved your music. Where are you these days?
elvis
Roar Rookie
Except Johns scored the first try in the 93 grand final which didn't seal anything... Are your other recollections just as mixed up?
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
Speaking of "chips". Reminds me of the ones a certain NRL player "allegedly borrowed" from a casino.
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
Until next time.
Nat
Roar Rookie
I went last night and credit where it's due, he was pretty good at the back for a long period. I could hear him talking and pointing the team around but he stays up in the line anywhere from 25m out giving himself no chance to get anywhere close too, or over run the play on our line. I can't explain the last 10mins, bad decisions following poor efforts.
Nat
Roar Rookie
Even the Roosters sombrero wouldn't be big enough to cover the chip on this one's shoulder.
Nat
Roar Rookie
"Rant over" we can only hope...
Nat
Roar Rookie
Couldn’t believe that either. Further, I bet it was Bully who came up with the idea to kick short w/ 5 to go – while we were ahead! Just dumb.
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
I grew up in Sydney & started following Rugby League halfway through St George's GF run so whilst I respected them I was happy subsequently to see them lose (tall poppy syndrome?) In the 92 & 93 GF's I was cheering for the Broncos & recall Chris Johns scoring a try in one of them which sealed the game. Whilst I wasn't happy about 2000 I didn't dislike the Broncos back then it was better than losing to Saints or Manly for that matter. Even the GF loss to Penrith I could begrudgingly accept. Didn't dislike Penrith however still can't understand why Todd Byrne didn't cut infield. Since I moved to Brisbane some years ago the Broncos have replaced St George as the team I enjoy seeing lose. Why? Media bias, arrogance of some of their fans I have come across however most of all the intense loathing of Sydney clubs particularly the Roosters. When Mitchell Pearce transgressed the Courier Mail's headline "Dog Boy" remains in my memory. My reasons may be petty however an explanation was warranted. Long may the Red Hill GF drought continue. I will add that I also enjoyed the latter stags of the 2015 decider for obvious reasons. Rant over.
matth
Roar Guru
Siebold’s decision to take Turpin off for the last 15 hurt us. I recognize that it was his first game back and he would have been gassed, but his absence at the end appears to have made a difference
matth
Roar Guru
You’ve really never recovered from the Broncs defeating the Roosters in 2000 have you.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Who wrote this, Boyd or his Dad. He caught and passed well but made no effort in the last line and without Turpin the defence was just as bad as usual so all his "talk" to "organize the defence was just not there. Esppecially when it mattered.
Tony
Roar Guru
I'm sorry, but based on last night's game in particular, and this season in general, the words "Boyd" and "Brilliant"should not be used in the same sentence.