Boyd relishing 'winning feeling' at five-eighth

Personal statistics don’t really concern Broncos five-eighth and captain Darius Boyd. Winning does.

Which is why he is happy overall with how he is performing in his new role in the number six jersey despite all the criticism he has copped in recent weeks. In the last six weeks the Broncos have lost one game - to competition leaders Melbourne - with Boyd in the starting six jersey.

"We have been winning and that is the main thing. We have been successful," Boyd said ahead of the clash with the Rabbitohs on Friday night.

"I am a team player and there were some things said about me not having enough runs the other week but at the end of the day if we are winning that is all that matters. I am not going to have three or four hit-ups just to get the stats on the board. As long as we are winning, Seibs is happy and we are getting better that is the main thing. We need to keep getting better and I need to keep getting better."

Boyd said he appreciated coach Anthony Seibold going into bat for him last week after he copped heat for making just one run against Melbourne in the 40-4 loss in round 21. Boyd once absorbed everything that was said and written about him but no longer does. He said he "didn’t even know there were critics" until informed about his coach’s remarks by a Brisbane official.

"If you live in the rugby league bubble you probably get bogged down by that stuff and I am very grateful to Seibs for sticking up for me, but I don’t read that stuff. I don’t listen to it," he said.

"There is more to life than rugby league and I have learned that. I have been through harder times than a few critics here and there."

Boyd had not played five-eighth in the NRL until this year and said he was embracing his game manager role in the new position.

"It am enjoying that side of it. It is about finding my role within the group more and making sure I am leading the team around the park and getting us to the right spots," he said.

“It is different [to fullback] but the game plan we play helps me a lot. I play basically like a second fullback so I am out the back of shape in my normal role with three on two, holding short sides and that type of stuff which I would do at fullback anyway.

"I would do it on the left and right [at fullback] whereas now I just do it on the left. There is not a lot of change. I defend in the front line and I have always like defending and talking in defence. I think I do a good job at that and making sure my four and two [defenders] are all working together."

Boyd will line up alongside Sean O’Sullivan in the halves against South Sydney with Jake Turpin suspended for two weeks for dangerous contact in the 24-12 win over the Panthers.

The Broncos will attempt to get a downgrade at the NRL judiciary for Tevita Pangai Jnr after he received a grade two dangerous contact charge for a tackle on James Maloney.

Pangai will still miss a week if successful but the Broncos will welcome back veteran Matt Gillett from a back injury after he trained strongly on Monday for Brisbane.

"He is just a calm head out there and a leader amongst the group. His defence is what can win games for you and keep the ruck solid, and he helps his edges as well,” Boyd said.

"With him and Sean O’Sullivan coming back he will really shore up that right edge. Tevita has been playing some great footy there but when you are out of sight, out of mind you can forget what some people can do, and Gillo is a big part of this team."