Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett says Darius Boyd is on track for a "remarkable" ahead-of-schedule NRL return from injury.
The Broncos recruit has ramped up his involvement at training in recent weeks and is likely to be available for selection inside the six-month timeframe initially laid down when he suffered a serious Achilles injury in pre-season.
Bennett was full of praise for Boyd and his application to his rehab program, saying his dedication levels were on par with the greatest players he has ever coached.
"He's been remarkable," Bennett said on Thursday.
"He's such a dedicated athlete and it's a credit to him.
"He's on track to come back before the six months at the moment and that'll be a miracle in itself.
"It's just a case of when. He's doing everything now and it's just a bit more time."
Boyd and the Broncos had circled the round 13 clash with Manly as the Queensland Origin star's return date, but his comeback is now likely to be brought forward.
But nothing about the 27-year-old's progress comes as a surprise to Bennett, who believes Boyd's teenage years spent at the Broncos around the likes of Darren Lockyer have clearly rubbed off on him.
"He's as good a player as I've ever coached in his application to everything," Bennett said.
"Locky was outstanding in that regard as well.
"You've got to understand, Darius came here as a young man and was influenced by all that.
"He was 18 and Locky and them were at the heights of their playing (career). He's smart, he always learns off people."
In more pressing injury matters for Bennett, three Brisbane players - returning skipper Justin Hodges, the in-form Ben Hunt and fullback Lachlan Maranta - failed to complete Thursday's session at Red Hill.
However, an unfazed Bennett said all three are still expected to play in Friday night's clash with St George Illawarra.
"We've just got guys with some niggles, we're trying to get them off their feet today and make sure they can play tomorrow," he said.
"We're seven weeks into the season, it kind of goes with the territory.
"There's a few players with viruses too, it's that time of year. It's all starting to happen."
Share
