Four Nations 2016: Kangaroos Darius Boyd ready for first battle with mentor Wayne Bennett

DARIUS Boyd squares off for the first time with Wayne Bennett, the only club coach he’s ever known in a decade of top flight rugby league. And he wants to send his mentor packing.

Darius Boyd will face Wayne Bennett for the first time in his career.

STILL to taste defeat in an Australia jersey, Darius Boyd is desperate to preserve that record against Wayne Bennett’s England next week.

In 20 appearances in the green and gold, Boyd is yet to finish on the losing side and wants to ensure facing a Bennett-coached team will be the only first he’ll experience at the London Olympic Stadium next Sunday.

Boyd, 29, has an incredibly close relationship with the seven-time premiership winner — the only man to mentor him at club level — and followed him from Brisbane, to St George Illawarra to Newcastle before reuniting with him again at the Broncos in 2014.

“I’ve had different rep coaches, but I’ve never played against Wayne before,” Boyd said.

“He’s coached me my whole career so it will be something a bit different.

“But at the end of the day, you play against the players not the coach but I’m sure he’ll have a few tricks up his sleeve.”

Darius Boyd and Wayne Bennett at Broncos training. Pic Annette Dew

Bennett’s side need to beat Australia to have any chance of qualifying for the final with the Kangaroos needing to also avoid defeat to mathematically secure their spot in the decider at Anfield on November 20.

Mal Meninga will name what he considers his strongest side for the game and Boyd said having Bennett in their corner will give the hosts the belief they can spring an upset.

“He’ll be telling them what he always tells his sides: ‘Complete your sets, defend well and hold them in the grind’,” he said.

“If you can keep a team down to a low score you can always sneak a try and come home with the win.

“England are a dangerous side already with big forwards and a lot of strike power out wide.

“With Wayne there it adds something extra. But it’s going to take time, it won’t happen overnight.

“The more time they spend under Wayne the better they will be.”

Boyd played down the significance of his remarkable unbeaten record which stems back to his debut in 2008.

“I’ve been very lucky, I’ve missed a few games over the years through injury,” he said.

“But hopefully it can continue for at least two more games.”

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Originally published as Four Nations 2016: Kangaroos Darius Boyd ready for first battle with mentor Wayne Bennett