Darius to lock in long-term deal
DARIUS Boyd will finish his career at the Broncos with the Brisbane skipper to receive a $3.5 million pay-day – the biggest contract of his glittering NRL career.
Broncos boss Paul White is in the final stages of brokering a four-year deal to keep the off-contract Boyd at Red Hill until the end of 2021.
White will meet with Boyd’s manager George Mimis in Sydney tomorrow with a view to finalising the multi-million dollar upgrade after Friday’s clash against Parramatta at ANZ Stadium.
The Broncos plan to formally announce the deal in the next two to three weeks.
Brisbane have signed eight top-liners in four months, eroding their spending power under the salarycap, but coach Wayne Bennett confirmed they have funds to keep Boyd.
“We won’t be losing Darius,” Bennett said. “Paul is handling the negotiations more than I am but it’s all good. The deal will be done.
“Darius will finish his career here. He never wanted to leave the Broncos in the first place, it was never his doing – he was told he wasn’t wanted. But he’s wanted now and Darius will be staying.”
Bennett famously had to issue Boyd a lifeline to join him at the Dragons in 2009 after the then Broncos rookie was not offered a deal by Brisbane’s former hierarchy.
The Broncos skipper will pocket almost $900,000-aseason, making him Brisbane’s second highest-paid player behind $1 million man Anthony Milford.
Just turned 30, Boyd had opportunities to head elsewhere but chose to stay loyal in his mission to be the captain that breaks Brisbane’s 11year premiership drought.