Reece Walsh cops new blow as Darius Boyd becomes latest figure to quit Brisbane Broncos
Boyd decided to leave Red Hill after growing concerned with the club's direction.
The Broncos have been dealt another crushing blow, with NRL great Darius Boyd informing the club of his decision to leave Red Hill. Boyd has spent the last three seasons at Brisbane as a crucial member of the club's football department, working closely with the side's backline, in particular star fullback Reece Walsh.
The former Broncos captain spent two days a week at the club's training ground as Brisbane's back-five coach and played a vital role in helping develop Walsh's game. Boyd was tasked with taking the flashy fullback through game analysis in a bid to help turn the fullback into the NRL's premier No.1.
He also educated the electric fullback about line-running technique and how to best execute three-on-two overlaps - Boyd's trademark. But the Broncos will now have to find a new mentor for Walsh and their other backline stars next season after Boyd informed the club he won't be returning in 2025.
News Corp reports the 337-game NRL great had grown concerned with the direction of the Broncos’ football program and had privately advised Kevin Walters of his decision to walk away a week before he was axed as Broncos coach. Boyd was a highly respected member of the Broncos' football department and was especially liked by the club's superstar fullback Walsh.
After the Broncos made last year’s grand final, Walsh praised the Queensland great for crafting him into the player he is. "I am very grateful to ‘Darbs’. I wouldn’t be here doing what I am doing without him," Walsh said in the week leading up to the Broncos' 2023 grand-final defeat to Penrith. "Having him close each week and getting tips off him and picking his brain as much as I can ... he has been massive.
"I wouldn’t say just this year either. Darbs came to sessions when I was at the EPD (elite player development squad) here in juniors and was teaching us three-on-twos and summing up situations." While Boyd will leave his football department role it is understood he will continue as a mental-health ambassador for the Broncos.
Broncos to undergo massive coaching shake-up
With Walters being axed and Michael Maguire coming in, there was always going to be plenty of changes at the Broncos. But the club may be in for a bigger coaching shake-up than what they initially expected.
Away from Walters and Boyd leaving, the club is growing increasingly concerned that Allan Langer may not return to Red Hill in 2025. Langer is reportedly considering walking away from his role at Brisbane after the sudden sacking of Walters. Langer and Walters are great mates who have worked together over the last four seasons at the Broncos and before that for the Queensland State of Origin team.
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And Walters' Broncos departure has reportedly rocked Langer to the point where the Queensland great is seriously considering leaving. Veteran reporter Robert Craddock says Langer is an important figure at Brisbane but can understand why he is considering leaving after Walters' sacking.
"He is considering if he can get over the Walters situation," Craddock told SEN radio on Wednesday. "Allan Langer and Kevin Walters have basically been joined at the hip for 40 years. Allan is a very loyal person and he was shocked and grieving deeply about the exit of Kev.
"I spoke to Allan the other day and what he did confirm is you can say that yeah I am contemplating my future over the next few weeks. And he has a right to be shattered so the question now is can Allan Langer lift himself out of this and be the person he wants to be for the Broncos or does he walk away... He is the soul of the club. He’s the little guy that captained them to four premierships. You couldn’t believe it then and you can’t believe it now. They love him, they really love him and they’d miss him (at the Broncos)."
