Darius Boyd full of praise for Broncos young guns ahead of season opener against Dragons

BRISBANE skipper Darius Boyd says the club’s young guns will make critics eat humble pie as the Broncos prepare to unleash their back-row version of Sonny Bill Williams.

The development of George Fai and Jaydn Su'A will be crucial to the Broncos.

BRISBANE skipper Darius Boyd says the club’s young guns will make critics eat humble pie as the Broncos prepare to unleash their back-row version of Sonny Bill Williams.

Queensland under-20s sensation Jaydn Su’A – rated the Broncos’ best back-row talent in 20 years – will on Monday be named in Brisbane’s squad for their premiership opener against the Dragons.

The Broncos are under mounting pressure to snap a 12-year title drought and some pundits believe the club is in danger of missing the finals for just the sixth time in their 30-year history.

The development of George Fai and Jaydn Su'A will be crucial to the Broncos

But Boyd has warned critics to write-off the Broncos at their peril, saying boom back-rower Su’A is the poster boy for the new wave of superstars emerging at Red Hill.

At 188cm and 100kg, Su’A is likened in playing style to former NRL star Sonny Bill and Boyd says Brisbane’s brigade of youth will give the Broncos a dynamic edge.

“Ouy young guys like Jaydn and Matt Lodge will surprise people,” Boyd said.

“We have a young side and sometimes when you are young you have no fear – you don’t realise the pressure and expectation on you. You just play footy.

“I actually believe the pressure on us is a lot less this year.

“For people to say we won’t make the top eight is crazy, but that’s OK, we can’t control what they think.

Jaydn Su'a attracts attention playing for Souths Logan last year.

“No-one is giving us a chance to win the premiership, everyone is talking about how well the Cowboys, Melbourne and Roosters will go, but I’m confident we will be up there again.

“The top four is always the Broncos’ target – and that is still a goal of ours.”

Broncos coach Wayne Bennett is a huge fan of Su’A and will name him on the bench for the Dragons showdown at Kogarah after a barnstorming pre-season.

The classy back-rower was Brisbane’s best player against the Gold Coast in a trial a fortnight ago, terrorising the Titans with his finesse, workrate and hard-running on the fringes.

Su’A is a product of Marsden High, the school which produced Wallabies star and former Bronco Israel Folau. He has represented Queensland at under-16s, under-18s and under-20s levels and has played eight NRL games since his top-grade debut in 2016.

The Broncos have been patient with Su’A, but the Auckland-born tyro is determined to make his mark on the NRL this season after an apprenticeship with Souths Logan in the Intrust Super Cup.

Jaydn Su’A is being compared to Sonny Bill Williams.

“Playing a lot more NRL this year is the priority,” Su’A said.

“I want to see more first grade than I have in recent years but I’ll only do that if I keep working hard.

“Wayne Bennett has been great for me. He picks you up on a lot of things and he has been hard on me defensively. I have a bit of a concentration problem, so I need to fix that and improve.

“I’ve had a good pre-season. It’s my first proper pre-season so I am in the best shape of my life. I want a big year so I will see what happens.”