Darius Boyd has been living up to his reputation as the Broncos’ resident perfectionist … and then some.
Before leaving on a holiday to Hawaii, the 30-year-old Brisbane captain left no stone unturned in his quest to strengthen an injured hamstring which kept him out of the World Cup and hampered his NRL finals campaign.
Broncos assistant coach Jason Demetriou said Boyd’s extra work would get him back running again in December and refreshed for a red-hot crack at the 2018 season after signing a four-year extension with Brisbane.
“Anyone who knows Darius knows how professional and committed he is to his training and rehab and he was in most days for three or four weeks doing extra work and re-strengthening his hamstring,” Demetriou said.
“A lot of it was around core strength and getting his hamstring right before he starts running again in December.
“We won’t rush him in terms of running because he is one of the fittest blokes in our team anyway.
“I am sure he will come back a more relaxed player knowing that his contract stuff is sorted and with his body rested. He is on holidays in Hawaii with his partner now and that is something he hasn’t been able to do for a couple of years.
“He is a big player for us anyway and will be even bigger for us next year.”
Boyd was unable to get any continuity in his training at the back end of the season but forged ahead despite being in discomfort on several fronts.
“He had a bit of trouble with his tendon up high, where his hamstring attaches,” Demetriou said.
“Darius worked really hard to get back and play the preliminary final against Melbourne but it went again in the warmup.
“He showed a lot of courage to stay on the field as long as he did.
“After Origin II, when he broke his thumb, he didn’t get any consistent training under his belt for the rest of the year.
“It was stop-start and really affected him and it impacted him getting any continuity with our spine.
“The big thing for him off consecutive Origin series, Four Nations and Test matches is that he hasn’t had a good break like he is at the moment, so I think it will do wonders for him physically and mentally.”
Meanwhile, the Broncos have unveiled 22-year-old former Warrington forward Andre Savelio at pre-season training after the rising Super League star signed a two-year deal with the club.
Savelio, a Broncos fan since he was a youth, has watched from afar as the Burgess brothers and James Graham forged stellar careers in the NRL.
“That is the dream, to come over here and hopefully be as successful as them,” Savelio said.
“You look at the English forwards that have come over here and they have gone quite well.
“I wouldn’t have come here if I didn’t think I could play (NRL). That is the hope, to train hard and hopefully Wayne (Bennett) can see that and I get the chance.
“Everyone says this is the best competition in the world, and it definitely is.”
