Leslie William “Les” Boyd

HERITAGE No: 715

BIRTH: 17 November 1956

Nyngan, NSW

OCCUPATION: Plumber’s Labourer, 1974

RESIDENCE: Liverpool Rd Enfield, NSW, 1980

GAME HISTORY

Nyngan RL 1970
Group 15 U/18’s 1970
Nyngan High School RL 1972
Australian School Boys RL (Under 16’s) 1972
Cootamundra RL 1973, 1974, 1975, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1995, 1996
Riverina Division RL (Juniors) 1974
Wests RL 2^nd Grade 1977, 1978
Wests RL First Grade 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979
Wests RL Pre Season Cup
Wests RL AMCO Cup
Manly RL 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984
Manly RL Pre Season Cup 1980, 1981
Manly RL Tooth Cup 1981
Manly RL KB Cup 1982
Warrington RL Championship 1985-86, 1986-87, 1987-88, 1988-89
Warrington RL Premiership Trophy 1985-86
Warrington RL Lancashire Cup 1985-86, 1986-87
Warrington RL John Player Special Trophy 1985-86, 1986-87
Warrington RL Challenge Cup 1985-86, 1986-87, 1987-88, 1988-89
Warrington RL v Wigan RL (Promotional Match Milwaukee, USA) 1989
City RL v Country RL 1979
Country RL v City RL 1983
NSW RL v Queensland RL (Interstate Series) 1979, 1980, 1981
NSW RL v Queensland RL (State of Origin) 1981, 1982, 1983
Australia RL v Great Britain RL 1978, 1979, 1982
Australia RL v France RL 1978, 1981, 1982
Australia RL v New Zealand RL 1980, 1982
Australia RL Tour New Zealand 1980
Australia RL Tour Great Britain 1982
Australia RL Tour France 1982
Cootamundra RL (Coach) 1985, 1991, 1992
Riverina RL v New Zealand RL 1986
Darwin RL 1991
Northern Territory RL 1991
Harden-Murrumburrah RL (Captain-Coach)1994
Harry Sunderland Trophy Winner 1986
Australian Secondary Schools Team of the Century 2008
Warrington Hall of Fame Award 2019
Magpie Award 1978
Australian Sports Medal 2000
Wests Team of the 1970’s (Lock Forward)
Wests Team of the Century (Lock Forward) 2004
NRL Hall of Fame Inductee 117 (Second Row) 2024

Les

Les Boyd was born in the western NSW town of Nyngan. He showed promise at an early age and played under age in the local rugby league team. In 1972 he was selected for the Australian schoolboys rugby league team and the following year moved to Cootamundra.

Les made an immediate impact when he arrived at Wests in 1976, noted for his powerful running and aggressive tackling. Quietly spoken off the field, he never took a backward step on it.

He joined the Manly club in 1980 and played there until 1984. Two indiscretions during this period have dominated and polarised any discussion on the playing career of Les. Whatever view is taken on that; the fact remains that Les Boyd was one of the most talented football players of his time.

Les played thirteen seasons in First Grade premiership and English Championship rugby league. He played seventeen tests for Australia and won a Harry Sunderland trophy. He has been selected in Wests team of the century, awarded an Australian Sports Medal in 2000, and in 2024 was inducted into the NRL Hall of Fame.