QUEENSLAND Origin star Darius Boyd is poised to follow coach Wayne Bennett’s lead and quit the Newcastle Knights at the end of the season.

Bennett stunned the club on Thursday by announcing that after three years at the helm, this season will be his last in Newcastle.

But he won’t be the only big-name departure.

While there will be no official confirmation just yet, The Daily Telegraph has learned Boyd has privately made it known he won’t be at the club in 2015 despite having a year to run on his $600,000 a season contract and is ready to activate a get-out clause.

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media_camera Knight's coach Wayne Bennett and Darius Boyd at training.

“Darius made it known he was going even before Bennett decided his own future,” one source revealed.

Asked about his fullback’s future on Thursday, Bennett said: “That’s up to him.”

“I think he has a lot of flexibility in his contract to kind of do what he wants to do.”

Pushed on whether he will take Boyd with him to a rival club as he has done in the past, Bennett replied: “Look, I’ve got to take myself somewhere first so let’s worry about that.”

Bennett’s decision caught many people off guard with most predicting he would take up the challenge of rebuilding the Knights and sign a new long-term deal with the club after Nathan Tinkler’s tumultuous ownership reign ended.

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But after breaking the news to stunned staff and players prior to Thursday’s training session, Bennett revealed his side’s dismal performances this season were “embarrassing” and left him no option than to quit.

“The NRL and those that are running the club at the moment were keen for me to stay but I’ve been here three years and I don’t think our performances, particularly this year, have been satisfactory,” he said.

“So in view of that, I take a bit of responsibility and ownership of that — I always have.

“The overall performance was the catalyst for me. I’m extremely disappointed. I’m embarrassed by it and it’s time to move on.”

Experienced Knights forward Jeremy Smith said last night none of the players saw it coming.

“I’m pretty shocked. I think we all are,” Smith said.

“It left a pretty empty feeling when he told us because none of us saw it coming and I’m still a bit rattled to be honest.

“I thought after the season we’ve had, he would have been like us and looking for redemption next year but it’s not to be I guess. What can you do?”

Bennett claimed the Knights’ well-documented off-field dramas this season had impacted on the team but there are were excuses for where the club finds itself on the NRL ladder with just four wins leaving them in a battle to avoid the wooden spoon.

“Everything had its part but the end result is we haven’t played what I think we are capable of playing and the buck stops with me,” he said.

media_camera Wayne Bennett outside Rugby League Central in Moore Park.

“You can’t keep passing the buck and blaming other people. It does stop with me. I’ve always accepted that as a coach. I’ve been responsible in that area.”

Asked was he walking away from unfinished business, he said:

“No I don’t feel that. I’ve done as good as I can do.

“I wouldn’t have lasted 28 years in the NRL if I’d have had seasons like I’ve had here. So for me, it’s about the high standards that I set for myself and I don’t feel like the team has come to those standards and it’s an opportunity for someone else.”

Knights CEO Matt Gidley admitted the club hadn’t started the process of replacing Bennett.

“We’ll start a formal process now that Wayne’s made his decision and I’m sure there will a number of candidates come forward but it’s important for us we get the right coach that fits our club,” he said.