BENNETT SAYS SORRY FOR PETULANT BOYD
ST George Illawarra coach Wayne Bennett has taken the extraordinary step of apologising to journalists after fullback Darius Boyd produced a press conference stonewall to rival the boss.
Boyd delivered one sentence responses to eight questions posed to him at training in Wollongong on Tuesday before the assembled reporters gave up and condemned the Test star for wasting their time.
The 22-year-old's performance didn't sit well with Bennett either as the coach reportedly spoke to Boyd about his disrespectful interview and then offered an apology to the gathered press.
Ironically, Boyd's performance was similar to the contemptuous effort of Bennett in 2007 when he offered one-line responses to questioning in a post-match press conference that was broadcast live on Fox Sports.
Below is a transcript of Boyd's short press conference in Wollongong on Tuesday:
Q: Up against the Broncos, excited about facing your old mates?
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A: Yeah, can't wait.
Q: That excited?
A: Yep.
Q: Did you watch them play last week?
A: No I didn't.
Q: What's the strategy going into the game?
A: We'll decide that on Wednesday I suppose.
Q: Happy to score another try, it was a good one?
A: Yeah, it was good, eh.
Q: Second one of the season, it's taken a while, you must be keen to be coming into form at the right time of the season.
A: No it was good.
Q: What are your thoughts on the way your team is going at the moment Darius?
A: Um, yeah, it was pretty good, eh.
Q: Are you fair dinkum?
A: Yeah.
It is not the first time Dragons players have been accused of contempt towards the media, with prop Justin Poore last week slammed for offering a short statement after a successful NRL judiciary hearing that cleared him to play on the weekend.
It is believed Bennett apologised to some reporters for that incident, taking responsibility for their behaviour as he had asked the players not to say too much.
Unfortunately, he later explained, the players thought he meant say nothing at all.
At least in-form five-eighth Jamie Soward offered an insight into the NRL title favourites on Tuesday, giving his first media interview in a few weeks.
While Soward bristled at questions over his own good form, and potential to be included on the Kangaroos end of season tour, he did reveal the Dragons were "filthy" over last Saturday's loss to Canberra and were looking to rebound against Brisbane at WIN Stadium on Friday night.
"Every time you lose it's a bad thing and for us we went down there and got beat and we have moved on," said Soward.
"I think the Dragons of old might have dwelled on that and let it affect us for a couple of days.
"But we had a few days off and you just watched training this morning, we were pretty sharp."
The clash with Brisbane is vitally important for both clubs - a win would put the Dragons closer to the minor premiership while the Broncos simply must win to retain their place in the top eight.
"Brisbane are always a dangerous team and obviously they will be up to try and prove something to Benny (former coach Bennett)," said Soward.
