Enforcer Boyd a big coup
Brennan buys in bulk
TITANS coach Garth Brennan believes Shannon Boyd will bring a hard edge to the Gold Coast pack after snaring the forward in a $2.4 million front-row coup.
The 122kg Canberra Test enforcer yesterday signed a four-year contract, worth $600,000 a season, which will see him join the Titans next year until the end of 2022.
The recruitment of Boyd came 48 hours after the Gold Coast’s $2.5 million retention of Maroons Origin prop Jarrod Wallace, also until 2022.
Boyd, 25, played his 100th NRL match for the Raiders last round against Cronulla and will help form a promising forward pack on the Gold Coast.
The Titans have now secured captain Ryan James, aspiring Queensland lock Jai Arrow, Kevin Proctor, Bryce Cartwright, Wallace and Boyd for the foreseeable future.
The Gold Coast will also welcome Penrith utility Tyrone Peachey next season as part of Brennan’s blueprint to turn the Titans into a finals force.
Brennan is assembling a squad he believes can turn around the club’s fortunes following just one finals appearance since 2010 and claimed Boyd was a critical plank in his revival of the Titans.
“Shannon has impressed me throughout the process and I believe he is a great acquisition for the club,” Brennan said. “He is an imposing figure that will bring some muchneeded size to our pack.
“He has played 100 NRL games and has represented his country, so he brings with him a fair amount of experience that will help a number of our young guys.
“He will complement the forwards we already have here, so I’m pleased he has chosen to join us. I’m looking forward to him joining the club next year.”
Boyd played four Tests for the Kangaroos in 2016. At 194cm, he will add plenty of size and aggression to Brennan’s engine room.
Boyd was outstanding against the Titans in Canberra a fortnight ago, scoring the type of bargeover try that Brennan hopes he can deliver for the Gold Coast next season.
Former Maroons lock and Titans foundation football manager Scott Sattler said Boyd would be a handy addition to the Titans pack.
“To be able to get an international prop is a great sign for the Gold Coast,” Sattler said.
“Even if the interchange rule does go down in numbers, you need someone of his size to bend the line.
“He and Wallace can potentially form one of the most formidable front rows in the comp. The Titans now have Boyd, Wallace, Ryan James and Max King, so they have a good balance of size, experience, youth and enthusiasm.”