Brisbane NRL skipper Darius Boyd says he has been "knocked down a peg" in his recovery from personal issues due to a controversial TV interview with his wife Kayla.
Boyd said on Monday he would need "time to heal", accusing the Nine Network of manipulating an interview with his wife so it focused on his infidelity four years ago and not the fight against cyber bullying she wanted to promote.
Boyd emerged from a well-documented battle with depression to be named Brisbane captain this year.
"That was one of the most hurtful things, the fact that I have come so far and I end up being knocked down a peg," he told AAP.
"I haven't had the best thoughts over the weekend to be totally honest."
Boyd said his wife agreed to last Friday's television interview hoping to champion a stand against cyber bullying.
She revealed she had copped a barrage of vile on-line abuse after posting a blog on her decision to have an abortion following an earlier miscarriage.
However, Boyd accused Nine Network of not only dwelling on his wife's confirmation he had cheated on her years ago but editing the footage in such a way that it came across like it had happened recently.
"It was a very hurtful weekend for my family, the way things played out in the media," Boyd said.
"There was a 40-minute interview with my wife that was cut into two minutes and edited into something that happened four years ago and made out like it happened now.
"It was meant to be a feel-good story about mental health, the challenges people face and overcoming hardships and cyber bullying."
Boyd said it would be hard to bounce back.
"But I have to be positive, I can't look back," he said.
"It is something I did years and years ago.
"I am not proud of my history but I am grateful of my journey, the things I have changed the last few years.
"It will take time to heal, I guess."
Boyd hoped to lean on the support network of his wife and friends that had helped him previously.
Boyd booked himself into rehab in 2015, failing to finish the NRL season at Newcastle.
He then followed his long-time mentor Wayne Bennett back to the Brisbane club in 2016 where he underwent a remarkable transformation.
Boyd ditched his truculent, media-wary persona and regained career-best form on the field to emerge as the man to replace retired skipper Corey Parker in 2017.
"It can't be changed now, I have to move forward," Boyd said of the interview.
"I am holding my head high, as my family are.
"People close to me know my story.
"It (infidelity claim) is something that is not new, it happened a long time ago and we are very happy now.
"I will be leaning on my family and close friends to get through this tough time."
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