Boyd not frustrated at Knights

DARIUS Boyd says he is happy in Newcastle, but the Knights' $1.6 million recruit has made just one linebreak in 885 minutes this season.

DARIUS Boyd has assured Queensland teammates he is happy in Newcastle, but the Knights' $1.6 million recruit has made just one linebreak in 885 minutes this season.

As the Maroons winger prepares to face former club the Broncos on Sunday at Suncorp Stadium, statistics show the magnitude of Boyd's struggles in his first season at Newcastle, where he has been hailed one of the finest recruits in the club's 24-year history.

Boyd scored two tries in Queensland's 18-10 defeat of the Blues in Origin I last week.

But at club level his numbers are well short of the game-breaking standards he set in helping to steer St George Illawarra to the premiership two years ago.

In 11 games for the Knights, Boyd has not scored a try.

He has just one linebreak, one linebreak assist, two try-assists and 30 tackle busts at an average of 2.72 per game.

In 22 games for the Dragons last season, Boyd scored nine tries and made 11 linebreaks, 14 linebreak assists and eight try-assists.

He also produced 103 tackle busts at 4.68 per game.

Boyd's frustrations surfaced last month when he broke down in the sheds after Newcastle's 24-6 loss to the Roosters at Allianz Stadium.

But Broncos prop Ben Hannant believes his Maroons teammate is poised to hit top gear after his confidence-boosting performance in the Origin opener at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne.

"Seeing him in Origin camp, we talked a bit and Darius says he's really enjoying his time at the Knights," said Hannant, who has known Boyd since their junior football days on the Gold Coast.

"It will take time to build that trust with his teammates and getting used to how guys play off each other. But he's building some good friendships in Newcastle.

"Darius is a class act. He plays Origin and Test football regularly because he's a true professional."

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