Darryl Brohman lashes questionable call as NRL announces next wave of Hall of Fame inductees
The rugby league great is fuming over the selection his long-time enemy.
Rugby league legend Darryl Brohman has questioned the NRL's decision to elevate Les Boyd into the Hall of Fame. Boyd was one of 11 male players confirmed as Hall of Fame inductees on Wednesday, ahead of next week's announcement of the NRL's next Immortal.
Modern-day greats Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk, Billy Slater, Greg Inglis, Johnathan Thurston, Benji Marshall and Sam Burgess have all received the honour, as have Australia's first Indigenous representative Lionel Morgan, renowned hardman Boyd, Balmain hooker Benny Elias and Brisbane's four-time premiership winner Steve Renouf. But the decision regarding Boyd has sparked controversy.
Brohman took to social media on Wednesday night to criticise the decision amid an ongoing feud between himself and Boyd. In 1983, Boyd was hit with a nine-month suspension for breaking Brohman's jaw in his State of Origin debut for Queensland. Boyd was sent-off after elbowing Brohman straight in the face, not even attempting to tackle him.
Brohman later attempted to sue the NSW forward, and the pair reached an out-of-court settlement. Boyd was also banned for 12 months in 1984 for eye-gouging, which effectively ended his career in Australia.
Brohman wrote on social media on Wednesday night: "Les Boyd…..9 Months suspension for breaking my Jaw in 1983. 12 Months for eye gouging Billy Johnston……Gets inducted into the Rugby League Hall of Fame. Please!!!!" And plenty of social media users were quick to agree.
In 2007, Boyd also threatened to sue Brohman after the former Queensland representative asked Boyd's wife if she felt he was an "embarrassment" during a live radio segment. Brohman recently said: “At the end of the day he doesn’t like me and I don’t like him. I am happy for him not to be part of my life and he would feel the same.”
Terrible.
— Former Legend (@Former_legend) August 14, 2024
Well said Darryl.
Completely disrespectful by the NRL.— Jason King (@jason_king72) August 14, 2024
Majority of the game agrees with you Darryl - it’s an absolute disgrace.
Really really poor from the NRL.— Ben (@orca_chaser) August 14, 2024
Absolutely horrible decision. How has the game come to this? Credibility out the window.
— Bookers (@bookers75) August 14, 2024
Peter V'landys commends NRL Hall of Fame inductees
In confirming Boyd's selection, the NRL labelled Boyd as one of the game's great hard men "during one of the toughest eras, in the 1970s and 1980s, representing Australia in 17 Test matches." According to the NRL's official website, players are considered for Hall of Fame selection based on their "outstanding feats on and off the field" throughout their careers. Boyd went on to play eight State of Origin games for NSW, as well as 229 first-grade games with Western Suburbs, Manly and Warrington in England.
ARL Commission chairman Peter V'landys said on Wednesday: "I'm in awe of this group of players and what they have each done in the game and for the game. This is the best of the best across several phenomenal eras. The group is full of premiership winners, Dally M Medal winners, Clive Churchill Medal winners, Australia, New Zealand and England representatives. There are brilliant halves, powerful and durable forwards and gifted outside backs. All of these players are exceptional."
The elevation of Smith and co into the Hall of Fame paves the way for their potential naming as the league's 14th Immortal. Debate has erupted in recent months about whether the next Immortal should be a modern-day great or one of the older legends. The NRL opened the door for the likes of Smith, Thurston and Slater to get the nod by shortening the time from five to three years that players can enter the Hall of Fame after retirement.
with AAP
