Tanah up to speed
THE NRL’s new ruck rules and the speed of rugby league’s new era have young Titan Tanah Boyd excited about his new life as a hooker.
Boyd was one of the new faces announced by Titans coach Justin Holbrook in the team named to take on the Tigers at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday, with the impressive 19-year-old coming off the bench in the No.14 jersey as a utility player.
It is a formula that has worked well in the past, especially at Origin level, with the likes of Cooper Cronk, Michael Morgan and Daly Cherry-Evans all cutting their teeth as Queensland’s No.14 before graduating to senior Maroons playmakers.
Boyd will be hoping to follow a similar path, having joined the Titans midway through last season from the Broncos as a halfback.
He made his debut against Newcastle in Round 24 and finished the season with two NRL games under his belt.
Now his NRL apprenticeship begins again, with Holbrook calling up Boyd as one of a host of changes the Titans hope will give them more skill and speed under rugby league’s new highspeed play.
“I’ve learnt a lot this year and have trained a bit at dummy-half,” he said.
“I’m still learning the game and position but I want to be out there and will do any role that is needed by the coach.
“I had a quick chat with (Holbrook), and he said that I’ll most probably come on as a nine. It’s an important role in the team and with the change in rules, I’ll look to come on and lift the speed.”
Boyd said having watched last weekend’s first round of matches under the new “six again” rule and one referee, he was desperate to get out and be a part of it.
“Yeah, that six-again change has changed the speed a lot,” he said. “I obviously haven’t played with it, but I watched a lot of footy last weekend.
““I think it will suit me. I’ll look to come on get the forwards coming on to the ball and also look to run myself as well. I want to excel in the game and I’ll keep working hard.”