Dec 23rd, 2019

Dec 23rd, 2019

First he lost the Brisbane Broncos captaincy - now the mail is that Darius Boyd is to be shunted out to the wing in a further blow to the former Test star in 2020.

Broncos coach Anthony Seibold has an embarrassment of riches in the backline, with a host of contenders for the key fullback, centre and five-eighth spots.

In the club's season from hell last year, Boyd struggled at both fullback and pivot and lost the captaincy as a result.

But it now seems the Broncos will play the enigmatic Anthony Milford in his preferred spot of fullback and Kotoni Staggs and Jack Bird, back from injury, in the centres. Jamayne Isaako is also in the mix.

New buy Brodie Croft is likely to partner Tom Dearden in the halves, leaving wing as the only spot left for Boyd.

Brisbane Broncos veteran Darius Boyd. (Getty)

RAIDERS GURU'S LATEST COUP

Raiders recruitment guru Peter Mulholland has done it again, snaring one of the best centre prospects in New Zealand.

Leo Thompson, a strongly-built centre from Wellington Hurricanes and Napier Boys High School, has been so impressive in the pre-season that he has been elevated to the Canberra full-time squad.

The rah-rahs aren't happy at losing the 19-year-old - they had him pencilled in as a future Super Rugby and possibly All Black rep.

Thompson will start in the under-20s, but the Raiders will closely monitor his progress as he switches codes.

The youngster has a twin brother, Tyrone, who plays hooker - and it wouldn't surprise to see the pair link up at the Raiders in coming years.

Leo Thompson in action for New Zealand Maori under-19s. (Getty)

SHADES OF SLATER IN STORM PROSPECT

Craig Bellamy is excited about a young fullback who has joined the Storm from the same area as club legend Billy Slater.

Robert Derby, aged 17, from Cairns, has signed with Melbourne after shining in the elite schoolboy competition, the Confraternity Shield, for St Augustine's College last season.

Derby, who is eligible to play international football for Papua New Guinea, will start his journey to the top with the Storm's feeder club, Sunshine Coast Falcons, next season.

After 12 months of playing against grown men there, he is likely to join the full-time Melbourne spot and stake his claim to be the Storm's second star fullback from the north Queensland area.

Melbourne Storm head coach Craig Bellamy. (Getty)

CHANGE OF LUCK FOR KNIGHTS ACE

The Knights are quietly confident that 2020 will be Beau Fermor's year, after the youngster has overcome a wretched injury run.

Born in Queensland, Fermor played under-20 State of Origin in 2018 and was expected to make his top grade debut last season.

But a torn kidney, followed by a ruptured ACL, made it a disastrous year for the talented back-rower.

A former NSW Rugby League Jersey Flegg player of the year, Fermor is in the Knights' top 30 squad, training strongly to get his knee back to full power and is one for the little black books next season.