It may still hurt to contemplate but Darius Boyd has already put his hand up for the 2017 Brisbane NRL club captaincy.The fullback was reeling after the Broncos bowed out of this years title run, falling 26-20 in extra-time in their semi-final to defending champions North Queensland in Townsville on Friday night.Adding to the pain, the defeat drew the curtain on Brisbane skipper Corey Parkers glittering NRL career.In the end, Parker notched 347 NRL games, finishing fourth on the all-time list.Boyd dipped his hat to Parker in the wake of their shattering derby loss.Indeed the Cowboys and Brisbane players formed a guard of honour for the veteran when he walked off the field in the wake of North Queensland booking a preliminary final clash with Cronulla.I didnt know they were going to do a guard of honour, Parker said.But there has been a huge amount of respect between the two teams.Boyd admitted Parker would leave a void but did not back down when asked about his thoughts on taking over the Brisbane captaincy next year.Corey will be sorely missed, everyone at the club loved him, Boyd said.Its something I havent thought about.But if I was given a chance I would like to give it a good go.Boyd couldnt help but smile when reminded that the Queensland NRL derby threatened to be decided for the fourth straight match by a point.The last three derby clashes had been determined by a solitary digit including North Queenslands 17-16 2015 grand final golden point triumph.This time, scores were locked up 20-20 at regulation time in Townsville on Friday night, sending an NRL finals match into extra-time for the first time since 1998.In the end, Johnathan Thurston laid on a sublime inside ball to set up Michael Morgans match winning try in the 85th minute for the Cowboys.Its a bit funny I guess, Boyd said.Before the game everyone talks about how close our games get and then it gets to that point again.You have a bit of a laugh in the end.We knew it was going to be close. But we failed to do a job in the end.Boyd felt for teammate Matt Gillett who was on report for tripping Thurston in the 78th minute, conceding a penalty that locked up the scores and sent the match into extra-time.I wouldnt call it an error. It was an instinctive thing, Boyd said of Gillett.It probably didnt look great.But there were five or six things that either side could call a determining factor.It was a long game but in the end things didnt go our way. Noah Fant Broncos Jersey ., and Rudi Swiegers of Kipling, Sask., took sixth spot on Saturday in pairs at the NHK Trophy ISU Grand Prix figure skating competition. Karl Mecklenburg Youth Jersey . -- Cam Newton pranced into the end zone, placed his hands over his chest and did his familiar Superman pose. http://www.broncosrookiestore.com/Broncos-Drew-Lock-Jersey/ . -- Yogi Ferrell orchestrates pretty much everything in Indianas offence. Peyton Manning Womens Jersey . By having more great seasons. Manning was the only unanimous choice for the 2013 Associated Press NFL All-Pro team Friday. Brian Dawkins Jersey . Hey!" The lower tier of the School End of Queens Park Rangers Loftus Road was packed solid with a very festive-sounding Chelsea choral section in this particular part of South Africa Road London, W12. NEW ORLEANS -- Anthony Davis doesnt accept the premise that the New Orleans Pelicans will struggle again this season simply because they let two of their best shooters walk this offseason and didnt make a splash in free-agency.For now, Davis has faith that the acquisitions of hard-nosed, two-way players including Solomon Hill, ETwaun Moore and Terrence Jones will make up for the departures of more offensive-minded players like Eric Gordon and Ryan Anderson.Its not about having the most talent, Davis said. Its about what (players) can bring to the table to help our team, and all these guys bring something to the table.Davis said he sees the Pelicans aspiring to be kind of like Boston last year, not having a lot of talent but guys play hard.Thats how they were able to win games, Davis added. Thats what we bought into and thats what were looking forward to.Beset by injuries to virtually all top players, the Pelicans went 30-52 last season, which was Alvin Gentrys first as head coach in New Orleans after winning a championship as a Golden State assistant the year before that.Gentry imported the Warriors up-tempo style to New Orleans, hoping it would suit Davis, whose speed and shooting range are exceptional for a 6-foot-11 front-court player. The Pelicans saw possessions per game rise by a league-leading 5.2 over the previous season, to nearly 99 possessions per game, but defensive deficiencies caused their up-tempo approach to backfire.So this offseason, We tried to make sure we were getting two-way players, Gentry said. We also signed guys that play with a lot of grit and added toughness to our team that maybe we were missing last year.---Some other things to watch as the Pelicans try to return to playoff contention:SIDELINED REGULARS: New Orleans will start the season without three prominent players: guard Jrue Holiday, guard Tyreke Evans and small forward Quincy Pondexter. Holiday is on indefinite leave to care for his wife, Lauren, a retired soccer star who was diagnosed with a brain tumor while pregnant. Treatment for the tumor could not start until after the birth of their daughter in late September. We told Jrue, forget about the basketball part of iit.dddddddddddd This is where you take care of your family, Gentry said. Were going to welcome him back whenever he feels its time. Evans and Pondexter are coming off knee surgeries. Pondexter missed all of last season and Evans most of it. Both hope to return by December.ROOKIE RANGE: The Pelicans know first-round draft choice Buddy Hield, their first round draft choice, can shoot. Hield, a unanimous AP All-American when he averaged 25.4 points for Oklahoma last season, routinely scored in double digits this preseason. But there are other aspects of NBA basketball the sixth overall pick is still learning, particularly on defense, so the Pelicans intend to have him come off the bench to open the regular season. Moore is slated to start at shooting guard for now.DAVIS IN THE MIDDLE: Gentry said Davis, who has filled out substantially during his first four pro seasons, now has the strength and skill set to routinely play at center when opponents dont have physically dominant big man on the floor. It gives us a huge advantage when were not playing overpowering centers, Gentry said. When Davis is at forward, the Pelicans top centers will again be 7-footers Omer Asik and Alexis Ajinca.HILLS MISSION: When Hill played for Indiana, he routinely guarded opponents most dynamic scorers. He said hell embrace such a role with the Pelicans while helping instill a more defensive-minded mentality across the roster. We all love the style that coach Gentry wants to implement, but everythings going to be on defense, Hill said. We cant get out and run if we cant stop anybody. Whats the point of having points in the 100s if you only have 100 and the other team has 120?TOGETHER AGAIN: Davis and Jones are teammates for the first time since winning the 2012 NCAA national title with Kentucky (in New Orleans). I always loved Terrences game. He can score. He pays hard. He defends. He rebounds. And of course we all know hes got a winning mentality, right? Davis said. Its good to have one of your guys that you went to war with come back and play with you. ' ' '