Darius Boyd, Billy Slater to battle for Queensland fullback jersey

KEVIN Walters admits he faces an agonising decision as the Queensland coach begins preparations for his second campaign in charge of the Maroons.

DARIUS Boyd and Billy Slater will be pitchforked into an Origin selection battle with coach Kevin Walters declaring the famous Maroons No. 1 jumper is up for grabs.

Walters admits he faces an agonising decision at fullback as the Queensland mentor begins preparations for his second campaign in charge of the Maroons.

Filling in for the injured Slater last season, Boyd came of age, clinching the Ron McAuliffe Medal as Queensland’s player of the series in his maiden year as Maroons fullback.

But with Slater having recovered from shoulder surgery and training strongly with the Storm, the duo are on a collision course for the coveted Maroons No. 1 berth.

Boyd is entitled to the inside running as Queensland’s fullback incumbent, but Walters has not forgotten Slater’s special moments in his glittering 27-game Origin career.

Darius Boyd starred for Queensland at fullback last year. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Slater is racing the clock to be fit for Melbourne’s season-opener against Canterbury on March 3 and Walters concedes form will help solve his fullback selection conundrum.

“It will be an interesting selection for me to make, it’s going to be really tough,” Walters said of the Maroons’ fullback spot.

“Billy is a wonderful player but he’s on the way back from injury so I need to see how he starts the season.

“I’ll be watching Darius and Billy closely and certainly form will be a consideration when we pick the side, as it will be for every position.

“I’m really proud of what Darius did last season, not only as a player, but as a person and a leader within the Queensland set-up.

Billy Slater last played for Queensland in 2015. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

“He has always been on the wing playing outside Greg (Inglis) and without Billy, it was his chance to stand up at fullback last season.

“While he was magnificent on the wing for Queensland, playing fullback was another level of responsibility and he handled everything that was thrown his way.

“I think Darius has the ability to captain Queensland one day, but he has said he’d be happy to play wing to fit Billy back into the side so I need to weigh all that up.”

Walters launched Queensland’s campaign on Tuesday by flying to Mackay — which will host this year’s Maroons Fan Day on June 14.

Maroons centre great Justin Hodges is adamant Walters can’t ignore Slater if the man widely regarded as the code’s greatest ever fullback reclaims his magic at the Storm.

“The fullback spot is probably the toughest decision of the lot,” Hodges said.

Kevin Walters faces some tough decisions ahead of the 2017 State of Origin series.

“Darius was outstanding last year, he got player of the series, but you can’t forget what Billy Slater has done for Queensland over the last 12 or 13 seasons.

“For me, it all depends on how Billy Slater comes back from his shoulder. I’m glad I don’t have to make the call, but if Billy is in good form, Kevvie probably has to find room in the side somewhere for both of them.

“Darius has plenty of experience on the wing, so that might be the best scenario for the team.”