Broncos trainer’s brush with death, Darius Boyd open to five-eighth move
Broncos coach Anthony Seibold put onfield worries aside recently when one of his closest team members cam perilously close to a tragic death. PLUS, why Darius Boyd will go to five-eighth again.
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THE Broncos have been rocked by a near tragedy involving their high-performance chief Paul Devlin.
Blindside can reveal Devlin is lucky to be alive after a recent holiday to Fiji with his wife and two daughters turned into disaster when he contracted cellulitis, a bacterial infection that almost led to his death.
Devlin’s situation was so dire the Broncos engaged grief counsellors to assist club employees. His parents flew to Brisbane to be by his bedside and Devlin even contacted Broncos chief executive Paul White and coach Anthony Seibold informing them he might only have days to live.
Seibold is close to Devlin — they worked together at former club South Sydney — and has been deeply affected by the ordeal at a time when the Broncos are struggling on the field.
It is understood Devlin had a mid-season break last month during Brisbane’s bye weekend for Origin I. He scratched his shoulder on coral while swimming and upon his return to Australia, Devlin felt unwell and collapsed at home.
Doctors believe Devlin suffered a serious infection from the coral cut. At one point he was on life support with doctors trying a last-ditch course of heavy antibiotics in a bid to save his life. The doctors also discussed amputation of his limbs to eliminate the infection.
Incredibly, with Devlin on his death bed, the Broncos conditioning coach responded to treatment. Tests have shown Devlin’s infection markers have reduced significantly. He is currently at home resting and may not return to work this season. Since his arrival in December, Devlin has been a popular employee and Blindside wishes him well in his recovery.
BRONCOS skipper Darius Boyd says he has no issues moving to five-eighth in the wake of his shock positional switch with Anthony Milford.
Boyd will return to the fullback role against Cronulla this Sunday after Milford injured his knee against the Knights, but the Brisbane captain may eventually find himself back in the No.6 jumper when Milford is fit again.
Just eight weeks ago, Boyd claimed he was best suited to playing fullback at the Broncos, but says he is happy to put the team’s interests ahead of his own.
“I’m always open to what is best for the team,” Boyd said.
LISTEN! Matty is back with Finchy and Kenty to talk Origin teams, Sticky’s best feuds, playmaker protection and the day Matty met Liam and Noel Gallagher.
“Seibs (coach Anthony Seibold) asked me about playing five-eighth and I was keen to do it.
“There’s a few things I felt I could do there and Milf was happy to play fullback as well. I thought he was one of our better players against Newcastle in a beaten side.
“I’m happy to do whatever the team needs. Going forward, if the best thing for me is to stay at five-eighth then I’m more than happy to do that as well.”
Boyd has copped all sorts of brickbats this season over his form but he deserves credit off the field. In an age when most out-of-form NRL stars run and hide, Boyd faced the media 24 hours after his shocker against the Knights. He has developed into a fine spokesman for the Broncos and the NRL, especially on mental-health issues.
HE will make his Queensland Origin debut this Wednesday night but Christian Welch’s future at the Storm is uncertain. Welch held talks with South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett six weeks ago shortly before the knee injury which cruelled his hopes of playing in Origin I.
At the time, Welch had a 12-month option in his favour at the Storm and was considering rejecting it and signing with Souths. But when he went down injured, Welch had a one-year contractual safety net and chose to activate it to remain at the Storm in 2020.
With the Rabbitohs to lose George Burgess at season’s end, Welch could be a viable front-row option. A number of Sydney rivals are also eyeing off the Maroons prop, who is stuck behind Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Jesse Bromwich at the Storm. Welch enjoys the Melbourne culture but could easily be a starting front-rower at other clubs.
COWBOYS and NSW Origin football-operations chief Peter Parr is a man in demand. Blindside understands Parr, the man who signed Johnathan Thurston to the Cowboys from the Bulldogs in 2005, has been linked with a return to the Broncos. Parr worked at Red Hill in development before joining the Cowboys in 2001 and establishing himself one of the code’s leading officials, helping North Queensland to their maiden premiership in 2015. NSW coach Brad Fittler hired Parr last year as football manager and the Blues had instant success, reclaiming the Origin shield from Queensland.
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WHICH Australian sporting star has a gambling debt of more than $1 million and is in serious trouble with a number of bookmakers? No wonder bookies are banging down the door of his employer.
GOLD COAST culture-and-performance chief Mal Meninga is close to finalising his review of operations. The Titans are set to hold a board meeting in the next fortnight and co-owners Darryl Kelly and Rebecca Frizelle are expected to digest the contents of Meninga’s report at that gathering.
It is understood Meninga has interviewed a number of senior Titans players. Meninga has previously suggested the review is not about sackings.
Asked if coach Garth Brennan’s job was under threat if the Titans miss the finals this season, Kelly said: “Garth has a contract (until the end of 2020) and where we finish is not material to that decision I would have thought. There are other factors involved and those factors have to be considered.
“Mal’s review will determine the issues and whatever the issues are, we will do our best to deal with those issues. He has been given full authority by the board to do whatever he needs to do and then he will report back to us.”
RETIRED Gold Coast journalist Ross Thompson has revived his 40-year search for a copy of his radio call of the first State of Origin match at Brisbane’s Lang Park in 1980.
Thompson was the lone commercial radio caller to broadcast the match through Tweed station 2MW after all metropolitan stations in Sydney, Brisbane and country areas decided the match would be little more than an exhibition game or a picnic outing for a NSW side.
With radio and television stations, and major newspapers boycotting the game, Thompson, who was Director of Sport and News for 2MW, convinced management he could provide an unbiased call for an audience on both sides of the border.
Unknown to the 2MW team, the studio panel operator was a NSW supporter who had already decided the game would not be worth recording. Thompson was recently told a rugby league fan played a recording of the game, which could have only been taken from his on-air call on 2MW.
“I hope this fan realises how important and valuable a tape such as this would be,” Thompson said ahead of this Wednesday night’s Origin decider. “I will be delighted to help him realise its true value and its vital place in State of Origin history.
Thompson has appealed for any information to be emailed to him at rossthompson655@gmail.com or phone him on 0421320019.
TWO of the Cowboys’ greatest servants, Matt Scott and Gavin Cooper, are confronting major decisions on their illustrious NRL careers. The veteran duo are off-contract at season’s end and have yet to receive formal offers from the Cowboys for next season. Scott has been an incredible performer upfront but the years of engine-room toil have taken a toll on his body and it wouldn’t surprise if he announced his retirement in the coming weeks. Cooper turns 34 next month and plays his 300th NRL game in round 17 against the Roosters, a phenomenal effort by the premiership-winning back-rower.
IT is almost certain the State of Origin opener next year will be staged at Adelaide Oval. The NRL were keen for South Australia to host Game Two but the AFL continues to play hardball and won’t budge on a scheduling clash. Should the NRL be forced to play Origin I in Adelaide, it could be a massive financial blow for the local economy. By playing on a Wednesday night for Origin I instead of a Sunday for Game Two, millions will be lost in tourism dollars with thousands of fans unlikely to engage in midweek travel.
PLAYING STOCKS
RISING
MICHAEL CHEE KAM: The ultimate super sub. Broke the Broncos’ hearts with a last-minute try in round five and the Tigers’ matchwinner did it again, this time slicing through to shock the Rabbitohs.
CURTIS SIRONEN: The son of Tigers great Paul has had some wretched injuries but a two-try demolition of the Titans in his 100th game was fitting reward for perseverance.
MITCHELL PEARCE: After seven losing Origin series for NSW, the Knights playmaker gets his shot at redemption in the Origin decider. Pearce deserves his call-up after some red-hot displays for the Knights.
COREY NORMAN: The former rugby league bad boy has come from the clouds to make his Queensland Origin debut at five-eighth in Origin III. Seems to have found a home at the Dragons.
FALLING
DARIUS BOYD: The Broncos skipper had one of the worst games of his career against the Knights. His missed tackle on Jesse Ramien is a moment he would wish to forget.
GARTH BRENNAN: The Titans coach is only just clinging on after last week’s thrashing against the Sea Eagles. He desperately needs a strong finish to retain his position next year.
CODY WALKER: Has lost his mojo since his axing from the NSW Origin team. The Rabbitohs desperately need him to regain his spark to launch a charge to the premiership.
MICHAEL MORGAN: The Cowboys skipper suffered a head knock in the loss to the Dragons and is still searching for his sparkling form that ignited a grand final charge in 2017.
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