Corey Oates admits Darius Boyd has Origin edge due to long-term combination with Greg Inglis
COREY Oates admits ‘Friendly Fire’ could shatter his dreams of a Queensland recall as the Broncos winger and teammate Darius Boyd wage an Origin shootout on Saturday night against Manly.
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COREY Oates admits ‘Friendly Fire’ could shatter his dreams of a Queensland recall as the Broncos winger and teammate Darius Boyd wage an Origin shootout on Saturday night against Manly.
The Suncorp Stadium clash will double as a battle for the Queensland No. 2 jumper with three players - Oates, Boyd and Sharks flyer Valentine Holmes - vying for the left-wing spot in Origin I on June 6.
Holmes is the incumbent, scoring a series-clinching hat-trick in last year’s Suncorp decider, but his predecessor Oates has surged back into the frame with his rampaging form for the Broncos.
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Boyd, however, has emerged as the real threat due to his longstanding left-side Origin alliance with Greg Inglis, who only has to stay fit to reclaim the Maroons’ No. 3 jumper for Game One at the MCG.
Boyd has scored 16 tries from 23 Origin games on Queensland’s left flank and while Oates is desperate to resurrect his Origin career, he admits he could hit a brick wall in the form of his Broncos skipper.
“Look at the duo Darius and ‘GI’ (Inglis) still are and the Origin record they have,” Oates said.
“It is one of the best centre-wing combinations you have ever seen.
“I will keep performing to put as much pressure on ‘Kevvie’ (Queensland coach Kevin Walters) as I can, but ‘Darbs’ isn’t to bad to have on that wing with all the tries he and GI have scored.
“It’s a dream come true to play for the Maroons, so I will perform for the Broncos and whatever comes from that I am happy with.”
Queensland selection boss Gene Miles said Walters is almost certain to consult Inglis when he picks his left winger.
If that is the case, Inglis is likely to push for 28-game icon Boyd, who has won seven of eight Origin series playing outside the Rabbitohs ace on Queensland’s left edge.
Fellow selector Darren Lockyer admits the three-way battle for the left-wing spot shapes as Queensland’s biggest selection headache.
“There’s no doubt Darius’ service is a factor,” he said.
“GI will be back at left centre and they have a great combination, but is Darius’ hamstring OK? To play on the wing in Origin, you need to have speed and Valentine Holmes certainly has that.
“Corey Oates has been outstanding. He’s a great finisher and has the ability to get a team going forward early in the set.
“It’s a good headache to have when we have Corey, Darius and Holmes are fighting for one position.”
Broncos coach Wayne Bennett urged the Maroons to consider recalling Oates, who was axed after Queensland’s 28-4 defeat in Origin I last year.
“I’d have to say he is (back in the frame),” Bennett said.
“But it’s a tough position to get into the Origin team in that wing position, there’s three or four guys who are candidates there.
“All Corey can do is play well. After that, someone will make a decision. If you aren’t playing well, there is no decision to be made. He is putting plenty of pressure on with his performances.”
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