Darryl Brohman vs Les Boyd: Football star turned commentator explodes over NRL Hall of Fame honour for rival who broke his jaw – and fans agree

A major row has erupted following the latest NRL Hall of Fame announcement, angering a football legend and a former player.

Melbourne Storm star Cameron Smith was the favourite of 11 male players confirmed as Hall of Famers on Wednesday, ahead of next week’s unveiling of Immortal. Sam Burgess, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater were also recognised.

But the decision to induct former NSW and Kangaroos forward Les Boyd into Hall of Fame status has angered ex-Origin rival Darryl Brohman, who led the protest against the decision.

Boyd famously broke Brohman’s jaw in a heated Origin match in 1983. Some argue that his behaviour belies the NRL’s claim that Boyd is among “an extraordinary class of NRL Hall of Fame entrants, including pioneers, record breakers and game-changers”.

Forty-one years after that infamous moment, Brohman expresses his displeasure with the decision.

‘Les Boyd….. 9 months ban for breaking my jaw in 1983. 12 months for gouging out Billy Johnston’s eye…… Get inducted into the Rugby League Hall of Fame. Please!!!!’ he wrote on X.

Football fans agreed that Boyd belonged on the team.

“Absolutely terrible decision,” said one fan. “How did the game get to this point? Credibility is gone.”

Darryl Brohman has reacted angrily to the decision to induct Les Boyd into the NRL Hall of Fame

Former NSW Blues star Boyd was inducted along with 10 other football greats on Wednesday

But Boyd was involved in a series of controversies during his career, including breaking Brohman’s jaw during Origin in 1983, which cost Brohman nine months of football.

“Well said Darryl,” said a second fan. “Totally disrespectful to the NRL.”

“It’s a disgrace,” said a third fan.

‘The majority of the game agrees with you Darryl,’ added a fourth fan. ‘It’s an absolute disgrace. Really poor from the NRL.’

“It was certainly an eye-opener, given my memories of working the league beat at the time,” said Robert Smith. “That attack on you in the Origin was reprehensible.”

The NRL explained its decision to include Boyd as follows: ‘Boyd was one of the sport’s hardliners during some of its toughest periods in the 1970s and 80s, representing Australia in 17 Test matches.’

However, his career was plagued by a series of controversies, including the Brohman incident which saw the Queensland star player out of the remainder of the 1983 season.

Brohman reportedly received $30,000 after filing a lawsuit against Boyd.

The two came face to face during the Snake Gully Cup races in Gundagai in 2019, but refused to shake hands.

“At the end of the day, he doesn’t like me and I don’t like him,” Brohman recently told News Corp.

“I’m glad he’s no longer a part of my life and he would feel the same way.”