Friday, 24 January 2020:
 | | ALEX GLENN of the Broncos makes a run at Shaun Johnson of the Warriors during the NRL match between the New Zealand Warriors and the Brisbane Broncos at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand. | |
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Coach Anthony Seibold has revealed he told Darius Boyd four months ago that he would no longer be Brisbane captain.
But Seibold insisted Boyd would still be a leader at the NRL club despite veteran backrower Alex Glenn being unveiled as skipper for the 2020 season on Friday.
Boyd's three season stint with the Broncos reins is officially over after an emotional Glenn was ushered in as the club's 11th individual captain in the club's 32-year history.
It ended months of speculation over Boyd's future after an underwhelming 2019 season capped by Brisbane's embarrassing finals exit - a record 58-0 loss to Parramatta.
But Seibold said Boyd had known his fate since September.
"I made the decision quite early. I had Darius around my house not long after the season finished - he took it like a man," Seibold said of Boyd's reaction.
"Darius is a pro. He wants what is best for the club. He said 'If you think that is the best decision for the club then I am all in'.
"It was nothing I didn't expect from him."
Seibold insisted he made the huge call to dump Boyd for his own benefit after watching the 32-year-old cop "unfair" criticism in 2019.
"One thing I saw in my first year here, for whatever reason, there was a lot of external noise and pressure on Darius," he said.
"He handled it well but I thought it was unforgiving. He was in the spotlight for unfair reasons in my eyes.
"I am very protective of him.
"Ultimately I wanted to take some of the pressure and spotlight off Darius so he can enjoy his rugby league at the end of his career."
Seibold still expected 317 NRL game veteran Boyd to have a huge influence on the Broncos in 2020.
He believed Boyd would be a guide for not only Glenn but also help develop Brisbane's "next generation of leaders" - Matt Lodge, Pat Carrigan, new recruit Brodie Croft, Tevita Pangai and Payne Haas.
"(Boyd) remains an integral part of our leadership group," Seibold said.
Glenn - a veteran of 259 games for Brisbane - admitted he would lean heavily on Boyd this season after fighting back tears when unveiled as skipper on Friday.
"I will be seeking a lot of guidance from him," Glenn said.
"He is still a huge leader in our team. And I know he will be supporting me."
Not that Seibold didn't think Glenn was ready for his new role.
"Alex is a leader through his actions and been a role model at our club for over a decade - I don't want him to change at all," he said.
"It's a big job ...(but) he will represent our club on and off the field in the highest regard I have no doubt about that."
