Darius Boyd has had a brilliant rugby league career in which he will go down as one of the great players in the game.
By the time he finishes at the end of the season, he will have played more than 330 NRL games, played 28 games in his country of origin and won 23 caps for Australia.
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Unfortunately, the final stages of this career have been punctuated with some questionable defense efforts that have caused fans and experts to pull their hair out.
Friday night was another example.
While hardly the only Broncos players were to blame defensively during the dismal 58-12 pounding against the Roosters, it was a special game in the second half that drew the anger of fans.
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With the results at 38-12 and the Broncos staring at the run of another awkward router, Rooster’s star Nat Butcher made a line break
He went into the field and sat down on full-back Boyd, who was sitting on the grass and was in air after Butcher entered.
The moment was not missed by fans and NRL commentators.
Nine reporter Jelisa Apps led the criticism.
“Darius Boyd has absolutely no intention of getting his body on the line. I just called the end of his career, ”she tweeted.
Former player Jimmy Smith, meanwhile, asked: “Will Peter Gentle drop Darius Boyd?”
While Bronco’s interim coach Peter Gentle didn’t name Boyd, he called out “individuals” for their defensive weaknesses.
“They are more disappointed with a few things that they did individually. They probably failed each other on some of our defensive principles,” said Gentle after the game.
“… Each of these attempts that could be seen was a person who didn’t do their job, and some of them had multiple people who didn’t do their job.
“… You learn on the run, but unfortunately we don’t learn quickly
Darius Boyd should be remembered for a lot of good shit, but the stink of leaving the game will be impossible to rub off
– Red Hill Rebuild (@thaidaynightfb) August 28, 2020
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