Darius Boyd

Darius Boyd

Boyd while playing for the Knights in 2012
Personal information
Nickname	Darbs[1][2]
Born	(1987-07-17) 17 July 1987 Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Height	184 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	94 kg (14 st 11 lb)
Playing information
Position	Fullback, Wing, Centre, Five-eighth
Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2006–08	Brisbane Broncos	73	31	0	0	124
2009–11	St. George Illawarra	69	13	0	0	52
2012–14	Newcastle Knights	62	17	0	0	68
2015–	Brisbane Broncos	0	0	0	0	0
	Total	204	61	0	0	244
Representative
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2008–14	Queensland	21	15	0	0	60
2008–14	Australia	17	13	0	0	52
2012	Prime Minister's XIII	1	0	0	0	0
As of 21 November 2014
Source: RLP

Darius Boyd (born 17 July 1987) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays for the Brisbane Broncos, with whom he won the 2006 NRL Grand Final,^[3] in the National Rugby League (NRL). He previously played for the St. George Illawarra Dragons, with whom he won the 2010 NRL Grand Final, between 2009 and 2011, and the Newcastle Knights between 2012 and 2014, before returning to the Broncos, whom he previously played for between 2006 and 2008, in 2015.^[4] An Australian international and Queensland State of Origin representative, Boyd primarily plays fullback, wing and centre but can fill in at five-eighth.

Early life

Born in Brisbane, Queensland, Boyd was raised by his single mother until he was 15, and his grandmother after that. ^[5] He played his junior football for the Mudgeeraba Redbacks before playing for his school, Palm Beach Currumbin High School. In 2005, while playing for Palm Beach Currumbin, Boyd was selected at fullback for the Australian Schoolboys team.^[6][7] He then debuted for the Burleigh Bears in the Queensland Cup.

Brisbane Broncos 2006-2008

2006

After playing for Burleigh, Boyd was signed by the Brisbane Broncos. In Round 1 of the 2006 NRL season he made his NRL debut for the Broncos against the North Queensland Cowboys.^[8] scoring a try on debut in the Broncos 36-4 loss at Suncorp Stadium.^[9] Playing on the wing for the majority of the season, Boyd got a chance at his preferred position of fullback for a number of games after regular fullback Karmichael Hunt went down with injuries. At the end of the regular season, Boyd won the Broncos' Rookie of the Year award.^[10][11] Boyd played on the wing for the Broncos in their 2006 NRL Grand Final 15-8 win over the Melbourne Storm.^[12] Boyd played in 27 matches and scored 11 tries (44p) in an impressive debut year in the NRL for the Broncos in the 2006 season.

2007

As 2006 NRL Premiers, the Brisbane Broncos travelled to England to face 2006 Super League champions, St Helens RLFC in the 2007 World Club Challenge.^[13] Boyd played on the wing and scored a try in the Broncos 14-18 loss. Boyd finished off the Broncos 2007 NRL season with him playing in 22 matches and scoring 7 tries (28p).

2008

In Round 1, Boyd made a strong start to the 2008 season by scoring a hat-trick in the Broncos 48-12 win against the Penrith Panthers at Suncorp Stadium.^[14] In May 2008, Boyd started to receive attention from other clubs as he was off-contract at the end of the year. There was speculation that he would move to the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs alongside fellow Broncos Michael Ennis and Ben Hannant,^[15] or possibly the St. George Illawarra Dragons following his coach at Brisbane, Wayne Bennett.^[16] After leading the NRL try-scoring table for most of the first half of the season, Boyd was selected for the Queensland team to play New South Wales in Game 2 of the 2008 State of Origin series due to teammate Justin Hodges' suspension.^[17] Boyd scored 2 tries on debut, both from passes from centre Greg Inglis, with Queensland winning 30-0 at Suncorp Stadium.^[5] He was also selected for Game 3. On 20 August 2008, Boyd signed a 3-year contract with the St. George Illawarra Dragons starting in 2009,^[18] following teammate Nick Emmett and coach Wayne Bennett to the Dragons. Boyd finished the Broncos 2008 NRL season with him playing in 24 matches and scoring 13 tries (52p). On 16 October 2008, Boyd was called up to the Australian 2008 World Cup squad due to teammate Justin Hodges being ruled out with a shoulder injury. Boyd made his international debut against Papua New Guinea on the wing in the Kangaroos 46-6 win at 1300SMILES Stadium.^[19]

St. George Illawarra Dragons 2009-2011

2009

In Round 1, Boyd made his club debut for the St George Illawarra Dragons, being selected at fullback in the Dragons 17-16 loss against the Melbourne Storm at Olympic Park.^[20] In Round 4 Boyd travelled to Brisbane for his, and Wayne Bennett's first match against their old club, which the Dragons won 25-12 at Suncorp Stadium, ending the Broncos' unbeaten start to the season.^[21] On 8 May 2009, Boyd was selected for Australia in the 2009 ANZAC Test match against New Zealand, scoring a try in Australia's 38–10 win over New Zealand.^[22] In April 2009, Boyd was named in the preliminary 25-man squad to represent Queensland in the opening State of Origin match for 2009,^[23] making the final team for Game 1 and scoring a try.^[24] He went on to play the next 2 games in the series. In Round 20 against the New Zealand Warriors at Mt Smart Stadium, Boyd scored his first try as a Dragon in the 29-4 win.^[25] In August 2009 Boyd's performance at a press conference about him scoring his second try for the Dragons in Round 23 against the Canberra Raiders in the Dragons 24-12 loss at Canberra Stadium in which the 22-year-old fullback delivered one-sentence responses to eight questions posed to him at a training session in Wollongong drew an apology to journalists from Dragons coach Wayne Bennett.^[26] Boyd finished his first year with the St George Illawarra Dragons in the 2009 NRL season with him playing in 22 matches and scoring 2 tries (8p).

2010

In Round 5 against his former team the Brisbane Broncos, Boyd played his 100th career match in the Dragons 34-16 win and was being named Man of the Match at WIN Stadium.^[27] In Round 7, Boyd received the inaugural "Spirit of ANZAC Medal" as Man of the Match in the annual Club Anzac game in the Dragons 28-6 win against the Sydney Roosters.^[28] Boyd played on the wing for Queensland in all three matches of the 2010 State of Origin series, scoring a try in each match to become the series' top try-scorer. Towards the end of the 2010 season, Boyd was one of the favourites for the Dally M Medal, having had a sizeable lead in Dally M points over last year's winner Jarryd Hayne and Sydney Roosters player Todd Carney when voting went behind closed doors after Round 16. He ended up finishing third, 2 points behind eventual winner Todd Carney and 1 point behind Wests Tigers hooker Robbie Farah. He did however take out the Dally M Fullback of the Year. Boyd played in the Dragons' 2010 NRL Grand Final win over the Sydney Roosters, the Dragons winning 32-8, and was awarded the prestigious Clive Churchill Medal as Man of the Match.^[29] After the 2010 season, Boyd suggested that he may leave the Dragons if head coach Wayne Bennett did so.^[30] In November 2010, Boyd played fullback for Australia in their 2010 Four Nations match against New Zealand, he scored a try. Boyd won the 2010 RLIF Fullback of the Year award in the off-season. Boyd finished off his brilliant 2010 NRL season for the St George Illawarra Dragons with him playing in 25 matches and scoring 2 tries (8p).

2011

Boyd played in the Dragons Charity Shield 32-10 win over the South Sydney Rabbitohs, scoring a try while playing five-eighth.^[31] Boyd also played in the Dragons' 2011 World Club Challenge win over the Wigan Warriors, the Dragons winning 21-15.^[32] Boyd equalled his 2009 and 2010 efforts with a double in the Dragons 25-16 Round 1 win against the Gold Coast Titans at Cbus Super Stadium.^[33] On 30 March 2011, Wayne Bennett announced he would not coach the Dragons in 2012, hinting that Boyd may leave the club as well.^[34][35] After Bennett signed a 4-year contract with the Newcastle Knights, Boyd was offered contracts from the Knights and the Gold Coast Titans. On 9 May 2011, the Gold Coast Titans officially withdrew their offer, leaving Boyd to decide over staying at the Dragons or following Bennett to the Knights. He eventually signed a 4-year contract with the Newcastle Knights. On 9 June 2011, Boyd signed a 4-year contract with the Newcastle Knights starting in 2012, remaining under the guidance of Wayne Bennett.^[36] Boyd played in all three matches of the 2011 State of Origin series. Boyd's final game for the Dragons was against his former club, the Brisbane Broncos. He scored the try that forced golden point for the Dragons, after they were down 12-6, but the Dragons ultimately lost the match narrowly, 13-12 after his Test, State and former club captain, Darren Lockyer kicked the winning field goal at Suncorp Stadium.^[37] Boyd finished his last season with the St George Illawarra Dragons in the 2011 NRL season with him playing in 22 matches and scoring 9 tries (36p). On 16 October 2011, Boyd scored 2 tries for Australia in the 42-6 Test match against New Zealand at Boyd's future home ground for the Newcastle Knights, Hunter Stadium.^[38] Boyd was selected in the Australian squad for the 2011 Four Nations tournament held in the United Kingdom. Boyd played all 4 matches, scoring 3 tries.

Newcastle Knights 2012-2014

2012

Boyd was selected at fullback for Round 1 of the 2012 NRL season, debuting for the Knights against his former club the St George Illawarra Dragons at Hunter Stadium in the Knights 15-14 golden point extra time loss.^[39] On 20 April 2012, Boyd was selected for Australia in the 2012 ANZAC Test match against New Zealand, playing on the wing in the Kangaroos 20-12 win at Eden Park.^[40] Boyd played on the wing for Queensland in all three matches of the 2012 State of Origin series, scoring 2 tries in Game 1 and a try in Game 3, and helping the Maroons' extend their record winning streak to seven consecutive series. In Round 21 against the Canberra Raiders, Boyd scored his first club try as a Knight in the 36-6 win at Canberra Stadium.^[41] Boyd finished his first year with the Newcastle Knights in the 2012 NRL season with him playing in 22 matches and scoring 3 tries (12p). At the end of the regular season, Boyd was selected at fullback in the 2012 Prime Minister's XIII team. On 13 October 2012, Boyd played on the wing for Australia in their 18-10 win over New Zealand at 1300SMILES Stadium.^[42]

2013

Boyd played for Australia on the wing and scored a try in the 2013 ANZAC Test 32-12 victory against New Zealand at Canberra Stadium.^[43] Boyd played all three games of, and was the top try scorer with 3 in the 2013 State of Origin series in which Queensland extended their record for consecutive series victories to eight. Boyd finished off the Knights 2013 NRL season with him playing in 26 matches and scoring 11 tries (44p). In October 2013, Boyd was selected in the 25 man Australia national rugby league team 2013 Rugby League World Cup squad, ^[44] playing in 5 matches and scoring 4 tries (16p) in the tournament. Boyd played on the wing in the Kangaroos 34-2 World Cup Final win against the New Zealand Kiwis at Old Trafford.^[45]

2014

Boyd was selected on the wing for Australia in the 2014 ANZAC Test against New Zealand at SFS in the Kangaroos 30-18 win.^[46] In Round 13 against the Wests Tigers at Hunter Stadium, Boyd played his 200th career NRL match in the Knights 23-20 loss.^[47] Boyd played on the wing in all 3 matches of the 2014 State of Origin series, Boyd scoring 2 tries for QLD in Game 1 of the 2014 State of Origin series in the 12-8 loss at Suncorp Stadium ^[48] and 1 try in Game 3 in the 32-8 win at Suncorp Stadium.^[49] After the Knights Round 19 Alex McKinnon round 22-8 match loss to the Gold Coast Titans at Hunter Stadium,^[50] on 23 July 2014, Boyd admitted himself to a mental health clinic to treat depression.^[51] On 14 August 2014, Boyd completed his treatment for depression and came out about him admitting himself to rehab.^[52] Boyd didn’t make a return to the Knights for the rest of the year as he continued to focus on his recovery and is leaving the Knights to join another club, possibly going to follow coach Wayne Bennett to the Brisbane Broncos for the 2015 season. Boyd finished off the Newcastle Knights 2014 NRL season with him playing in 14 matches and scoring 3 tries (12p).

Return to Brisbane Broncos

On 31 October 2014, Boyd was released from the final year of his Knights contract.^[53] On 21 November 2014, Boyd signed a three-year contract with the Brisbane Broncos, returning to the club where he made his NRL debut in 2006.^{[54][55][56][57]}

On 5 December, Boyd ruptured his Achilles during pre-season training; this injury is expected to keep him out of action for at least six months, possibly seeing him sidelined for the entire 2015 season.^[58]

References

External links

• 2014 Newcastle Knights profile

Preceded by Billy Slater (Melbourne Storm)	Clive Churchill Medallist 2010	Succeeded by Glenn Stewart (Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles)

Brisbane Broncos – current squad Adams Blair Boyce Boyd Copley Dodds Drew Eden Garbutt Gavet Gillett Glenn Greinke Hodges (c) Hunt Kahu Lowrie Maranta McCullough McGuire Milford Molo J.Nikorima K.Nikorima Oates Ofahengaue Opacic Parcell Parker (c) Reed Stagg Thaiday Vidot Waddell Wallace Whitchurch Coach: Bennett

Australia squad – 2013 Rugby League World Cup Champions (10th Title)  Billy Slater  Darius Boyd  Jarryd Hayne  Brett Morris  Greg Inglis  Michael Jennings  Josh Morris  Brent Tate  Johnathan Thurston  Daly Cherry-Evans  Cooper Cronk  Andrew Fifita  Nate Myles  Josh Papalii  Matt Scott  James Tamou  Cameron Smith (c)  Robbie Farah  Greg Bird  Boyd Cordner  Luke Lewis  Corey Parker  Sam Thaiday  Paul Gallen Coach: Tim Sheens

St. George Illawarra Dragons squad - 2010 NRL premiers 1. Darius Boyd 2. Brett Morris 3. Mark Gasnier 4. Matt Cooper 5. Jason Nightingale 6. Jamie Soward 7. Ben Hornby (c) 8. Neville Costigan 9. Dean Young 10. Michael Weyman 11. Beau Scott 12. Ben Creagh 13. Jeremy Smith 14. Nathan Fien 15. Trent Merrin 16. Matt Prior 17. Jarrod Saffy Coach: Wayne Bennett

Australia squad – 2008 Rugby League World Cup finalists 1 Lockyer (c) 2 Boyd 3 Campese 4 Civoniceva 5 Fitzgibbon 6 Folau 7 Gallen 8 Gidley 9 Hunt 10 Inglis 11 Kite 12 Laffranchi 13 Monaghan 14 Perry 15 Price 16 Prince 17 Slater 18 Smith 19 Stewart 20 Tate 21 Thurston 22 Tupou 23 Watmough 24 Williams Coach: Stuart

Brisbane Broncos squad – 2006 NRL Premiers (6th Title) 1 Justin Hodges 2 Darius Boyd 3 David Stagg 4 Brent Tate 5 Karmichael Hunt 6 Darren Lockyer (c) 7 Shane Perry 8 Shane Webcke 9 Shaun Berrigan 10 Petero Civoniceva 11 Sam Thaiday 12 Brad Thorn 13 Tonie Carroll 14 Corey Parker 15 Dane Carlaw 16 Ben Hannant 17 Casey McGuire Coach: Wayne Bennett

Clive Churchill Medallists 1986 Peter Sterling 1987 Cliff Lyons 1988 Paul Dunn 1989 Bradley Clyde 1990 Ricky Stuart 1991 Bradley Clyde 1992 Allan Langer 1993 Brad Mackay 1994 David Furner 1995 Jim Dymock 1996 Geoff Toovey 1997 Robbie O'Davis 1998 Gorden Tallis 1999 Brett Kimmorley 2000 Darren Lockyer 2001 Andrew Johns 2002 Craig Fitzgibbon 2003 Luke Priddis 2004 Willie Mason 2005 Scott Prince 2006 Shaun Berrigan 2007 Greg Inglis 2008 Brent Kite 2009 Billy Slater 2010 Darius Boyd 2011 Glenn Stewart 2012 Cooper Cronk 2013 Daly Cherry-Evans 2014 Sam Burgess