POWERFUL Cootamundra forward Grant Boyd is set to turn his back on retirement to play for Temora in the Group Nine premiership next year.
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Only weeks after it seemed Boyd would be a spectator in 2016, Temora have enticed the Bulldogs star to have at least one more season.
Outgoing Temora secretary Greg Matthews has revealed the Dragons are in the throes of finalising a deal with the barnstorming front rower.
He's still one of the best front rowers going around in the country... it's a massive signing.
- Daniel Fitzhenry, Temora coach
“We have a verbal agreement with Grant Boyd for 2016,” Matthews said.
Boyd is the second former Bulldog headed to Temora, after former Canberra Raiders Under 20 player, Jordyn Ballard, made the switch last month.
While Cootamundra is haemorrhaging talent, the impending signing of Boyd is a huge bonus for the Dragons according to coach Daniel Fitzhenry.
“Grant’s just an old-school front rower, he plays the game tough and he knows his job,” Fitzhenry said.
Fitzhenry revealed he had tried to recruit Boyd when he was coach of South City a couple of seasons ago and said the veteran remains a prized target.
“Get him half fit and he’s still one of the best front rowers going around in the country,” he said.
“For me, it’s a massive signing for Temora, especially after we lost two great front rowers.
“We’ve got to fill that hole and Boydy will go a long way towards doing that.”
Temora suffered twin major off-season setbacks with ex-coach Michael Henderson’s move to Wollongong and club stalwart Scott Matthews reluctantly forced out of football by a nagging knee problem.
“It is tough about Scott, he loves his footy but long term he will be better off looking after his knee,” Greg Matthews said.
Likewise, the hard-working Temora secretary will also take a back seat next year.
“I let our (Temora) committee know at the beginning of the year that I won’t be doing the secretary job next year,” he said.
“(I’m) Just too busy with work.
‘’I'll help our where I can, but not on the committee.”
As the Dragons cement a foundation stone for their 2016 pack, Cootamundra continues to fall further behind other clubs.
The Bulldogs are in strife following a turbulent period in which Luke Berkrey has stepped aside as coach and several players, including Boyd and Shannon Rupapere, have left the fold.
Berkrey and Rupapere will play for Queanbeyan Blues next year, while Cootamundra is desperately striving to recruit a new coach.
