Broncos prepared for Boyd to rest up
DARIUS Boyd is at long odds to face the Roosters in Friday night’s finals blockbuster with the Broncos skipper risking a season- ending tear if he takes a gamble with his injured hamstring.
Broncos high- performance chief Jeremy Hickmans vowed to take every precaution with Boyd and boom forward Tevita Pangai Junior, who also aggravated a hamstring strain in Thursday night’s 20- 10 defeat of the Cowboys.
Boyd underwent immediate treatment yesterday and will undergo around- the- clock rehabilitation over the next six days to give the champion fullback every chance of taking on the Roosters. But with Brisbane guaranteed a second chance in the finals, coach Wayne Bennett can afford to be conservative with Boyd.
Should he roll the dice against the Roosters and sustain fresh damage, Boyd would face a three- to- four week recovery – a scenario that would end his season and be a crushing blow to Brisbane’s title hopes.
“We’ll hope he is OK ( to play) but it is always tough with a hamstring injury,” Hickmans said. “We’re not sure on the exact nature of it … it just tightened up a bit and we didn’t want to risk him.”
Bennett added: “The medical people will make that decision ( on whether Boyd faces the Roosters). It’s not serious, that’s the best part, it’s a oneweek injury maybe.”
Brisbane’s top- four finish gives Bennett a welcome selection safety net with Boyd and Pangai Junior. A Broncos win against the Roosters without the duo would secure a week off, giving Boyd and Pangai Junior an extra seven days to be fully fit.