this should free up some cap space for Brisbane
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...s/news-story/1f6d798c574584f8b39b0200b6acfe60
Darius Boyd poised to finish his career with Brisbane as hefty contract extension looms
EXCLUSIVE, The Courier-Mail
July 25, 2017 7:32pm
DARIUS Boyd will finish his career at the Broncos with the Brisbane skipper to receive a $3.5 million payday — the biggest contract of his glittering NRL career.
The Courier-Mail can reveal Broncos chief executive Paul White is in the final stages of broking a four-year deal to keep the off-contract Boyd at Red Hill until the end of 2021.
White will meet with Boyd’s manager George Mimis in Sydney tomorrow with a view to finalising the multi-million dollar upgrade after Friday night’s clash against Parramatta at ANZ Stadium.
The Broncos plan to formally announce the deal in the next two to three weeks.
Brisbane have signed eight top-liners in four months, eroding their spending power under the salary-cap, but coach Wayne Bennett last night confirmed they have the funds to make Boyd a Bronco for life.
“We won’t be losing Darius,” Bennett said.
“Paul White is handling the negotiations more than I am but it’s all good. The deal will be done.
“Darius will finish his career here. He never wanted to leave the Broncos in the first place, it was never his doing — he was told he wasn’t wanted.
“But he’s wanted now and Darius will be staying here.”
Bennett famously had to issue Boyd a lifeline to join him at the Dragons in 2009 after the then Broncos rookie was not offered a contract extension by Brisbane’s former hierarchy.
Now Bennett is presiding over the biggest deal of Boyd’s career. The Broncos skipper will pocket almost $900,000-a-season, making him Brisbane’s second highest-paid player behind $1 million man Anthony Milford.
Just turned 30, Boyd had opportunities to head elsewhere but chose to stay loyal in his mission to be the captain that breaks Brisbane’s 11-year premiership drought.
The new deal will give the Maroons Origin ace the chance to play more than 350 NRL matches and join Brisbane’s elite 200-game club.
“I’m not going anywhere which is good,” said Boyd, a veteran of 260 top-grade games.
“I never wanted to leave in the first place and now that I’m back I won’t be leaving, that’s for sure.
“I love this club, I can’t wait to finish my career here.
“It’s been my favourite club since I was a six-year-old boy. I used to yell at the TV when they would lose.
“To be captain of the club now ... I still don’t feel it’s quite real but hopefully we can win the comp while I’m here.”
In a further boost for Boyd, the classy custodian trained strongly yesterday and is expected to return from a broken thumb against the Eels.
“As long as I get through (tomorrow), then I’ll play,” he said.
“The doctors have given me the all-clear so now it’s just having the confidence to pass and do some tackling with it.”
