Rugby league hard man Les Boyd has fired back at long-time enemy Darryl Brohman over his criticism of his induction into the NRL Hall of Fame, declaring: “I couldn’t give a f..k.”
Boyd was one of 11 players announced in the class of 2024 on Wednesday.
But his inclusion sparked a furious response from Brohman, the man whose jaw Boyd broke during a State of Origin match in 1983 which led to a 12-month suspension.
A renowned straight shooter, Boyd on Thursday hit back, claiming his elbow on Brohman has given the 2GB Continuous Call Team panel member 40 years of notoriety.
“He should be grateful that I did it, otherwise no-one would remember him,” Boyd said.
“Honestly, I couldn’t give a f. k. Let him worry about it. He’s the one who can’t let it go. I’m over it. It’s in the past.”
After the hit, Brohman didn’t play again in the 1983 season. He has maintained the injury cost him Australian representation.
It’s why the pair have shared a 41-year dislike of one another.
“About six or seven years ago, I was sitting at Gundagai races with one of my mates and he (Brohman) was sitting at a table across from me,” Boyd said.
“He came up to me and said he felt uncomfortable and that he would come over and say ‘g'day’.
“I said ‘don’t feel uncomfortable, enjoy the races, I don’t give a ‘f..k’ and I walked away. That’s the only time I’ve spoken to him.
“It (the incident) was more than 40 years ago – it was a long time ago. That’s life.”
Boyd will formally be inducted into rugby league’s Hall of Fame at a special ceremony at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Wednesday night.
He played 17 Tests for Australia and was among the fiercest and most damaging running forwards of his era.
“Boyd was one of the game’s hard men during one of the toughest eras, in the 1970s and 1980s, representing Australia in 17 Test matches,” the NRL said in announcing his elevation into the Hall of Fame.
However, his career was marred by two major on-field incidents.
NSW forward Boyd was suspended for 12 months for breaking the jaw of Brohman, then a Queensland prop.
He then incurred a further 15-month ban for eye gouging Canterbury’s Billy Johnstone in 1984.
When the NRL, on Wednesday, announced “an extraordinary class of inductees into the NRL Hall of Fame, featuring pioneers, record-breakers and game-changers”, Brohman was angered.
““Les Boyd …. 9 Months suspension for breaking my Jaw in 1983. 12 Months for Eye gouging Billy Johnston (sic) …… Gets inducted into the Rugby League Hall of Fame. Please!!!!”
There were fears Boyd’s entry could cause angst among the 2GB rugby league broadcast team, with Brohman a key member and head caller Ray Hadley being on the Hall of Fame voting panel.
“It was a secret ballot. I know who I voted for but I’ve got no idea how the other 14 panel members voted,” Hadley said on Thursday.
“I was one of the few people on the panel who was actually at the hearings back in the 1980s when the late (former NSWRL judiciary chairman) Jim Comans gave Les Boyd his lengthy suspensions, which virtually ended his career in Australia.”
Brohman took legal action which resulted in an out-of-court settlement in which Boyd reportedly paid about $30,000.
The NRL announced Boyd as one of 11 Hall of Fame selectees, the others being Lionel Morgan, Ben Elias, Steve Renouf, Cameron Smith, Johnathan Thurston, Billy Slater, Benji Marshall, Cooper Cronk, Greg Inglis and Sam Burgess.
“The group of players inducted is amazing,” Elias said. “It’s been a long road however to get this great acclamation and recognition is certainly a great honour.”
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