Boyd 'keen to have a crack' as long-term five-eighth

Broncos captain Darius Boyd said he was ready to have a red hot crack in his new role as five-eighth now that Anthony Milford has returned to play fullback against the Warriors.

Boyd had one of his best games of the season in the 24-22 win over the Sharks while playing at fullback where he ran for 154 metres from 17 runs, including a line break, and made the tackles that he needed to.

The Brisbane veteran had a tough night defensively against the Knights in round 15 where he played five-eighth in attack but was forced to defend in the centres after an injury to winger Richie Kennar.

All going to plan he is hoping for an extended run in the No.6 jersey and said he had embraced coach Anthony Seibold’s decision to make his positional switch with Milford during the season.

"[Seibold] said he probably wanted to look at it next year and give us a full pre-season to change roles... but we’ve had an up-and-down season so far and there has been a bit of inconsistency so we may as well have a crack at it now and see how it goes," Boyd said.

"I am keen to have a crack at it.  It is pretty similar to fullback to be honest apart from the defence and catching the bombs at the back. The game plan is the same and the positions I play in attack are the same.

"We have tailored the game plan for me to do similar things at five-eighth to what I do at fullback so my role hasn’t changed in that regard."

The Telstra Tracker records the top speed of players in each round and Boyd was equal quickest in the competition last week with Brisbane debutant Xavier Coates in round 16, hitting 34.3km/h.

He hit a hole through the middle of the park at pace and had more zip in his general play than in recent months.

In the pre-season Boyd told NRL.com that his training data revealed he had been running at speeds not achieved since he was a teenager. 

"I just wanted to get involved and worry about my game," Boyd said of his Sharks display.

"Against Newcastle I was trying to guide the team around the park and worrying about leading too much but at the end of the day I have got to worry about my game and play my role.

"I went back to basics and played my game and I thought that worked really well."

Milford has trained well this week at fullback after returning from an MCL injury suffered against the Knights.

The Knights game was his first run in the No.1 jersey since 2014 when he was at the Raiders.

Boyd said he was impressed by Milford's game in Newcastle and tipped him to continue that form on his return.

He said he was confident that there would be no repeat of the 26-12 loss to the Knights if both himself and his teammates defended more stoutly.

"It was a bit of mixed night for me and the team after we got out to an 18-nil deficit which was disappointing," he said.

"We probably didn’t defend as well as we would have liked. Our focus is defence and we know if we defend well we will give ourselves every chance of winning most games.

“Against Cronulla we defended well and started really strong and that is the key."

Boyd said the win over the Sharks with an inexperienced squad has been a massive boost ahead of the Warriors clash.

"It was a special performance. Everyone has spoken about the emotional jersey presentation to the [four] debutants." he said.

"Sometimes you get stuck in the wins and losses in rugby league but to see the smiles on the kids' faces, and their families, is why we do play rugby league and why we love a team sport,” he said.

"We all have each other’s back and that is the way we went down to Cronulla. We had nothing to lose, no-one gave us a chance and we had a crack and played together and got the result. That is the blueprint going forward."