State of Origin 2018: Brisbane Broncos captain Darius Boyd in battle to save Origin career
BRONCOS skipper Darius Boyd is fighting to save his Origin career after Queensland coach Kevin Walters declared a Maroons teammate a selection “untouchable”, sparking a two-way battle for one remaining place in the backline.
Blues
Don't miss out on the headlines from Blues. Followed categories will be added to My News.
BRONCOS skipper Darius Boyd is fighting to save his Origin career after Queensland coach Kevin Walters declared Souths superstar Greg Inglis will be back in Maroon.
In the ultimate show of faith, Walters says Inglis is a selection untouchable, revealing he only has to stay fit in his return from a knee reconstruction to return to the Maroons for Origin I at the MCG.
By guaranteeing Inglis selection, Walters has triggered a desperate fight for Origin backline berths in a move that leaves Brisbane fullback Boyd in danger of being axed.
Barring injury, Inglis and Test duo Will Chambers and Dane Gagai are almost certain to claim three-quarter spots, while Walters revealed yesterday that Billy Slater is available at fullback for the 2018 Origin series.
With Inglis back in Maroon, that leaves Boyd and incumbent Maroons winger Valentine Holmes – who scored a hat-trick in the Origin decider last year – vying for the Queensland No. 2 jumper.
Inglis has started the new season slowly in his return from the worst injury of his decorated career but Walters emphatically scuppered any suggestions the Maroons ace faces an Origin snub.
“I will pick Greg 100 per cent – there won’t be any problems there,” Walters said.
“We made the mistake of leaving out one of our great players last year (Billy Slater in Game One) and we paid the price for it (the Maroons were thrashed 28-4).
“We’d be silly to do the same with Greg.
“He has come back from a knee injury and he’s a very experienced player. It’s a nice feeling knowing he will be playing Origin this year. If he stays fit, we have a great choice in Greg Inglis.”
With Holmes quiet in the opening fortnight playing fullback at Cronulla, Boyd can turn up the heat on Maroons selectors with a sizzling display against Wests Tigers on Friday night in Sydney.
Boyd has played 23 of his 28 Origin games on Queensland’s wing but in his first interstate match at centre last year, he suffered a broken hand in the Maroons’ 18-16 win in Game Two.
Queensland selection boss Gene Miles is a huge fan of the Inglis-Boyd alliance on the Maroons’ left edge but Walters blooded Holmes last year with a view to him being a 10-year Origin player.
“They (Inglis and Boyd) have scored more tries down that left side than any other combination but Valentine Holmes is there,” Walters said.
“Val has been playing fullback for the Sharks but he is high on our list as well.
“It’s going to be tough come selection time if everyone is in form and injury free, it’s going to create some headaches, that’s for sure.”
Inglis, a 30-game Origin champion, is adamant he must prove himself again.
“I definitely think I need to earn the jumper back,” he said.
“The boys did the job last year, so I need to put in good performances for Souths to make myself available.
“I can’t just jump straight back into Origin after coming from an ACL injury. Origin is only 10 weeks away, so I have that time to put in some good performances before Origin I.”
Candidates confirmed: NRL coaches ruled out of Blues job
The NSWRL board will meet to discuss contenders for the vacant NSW State of Origin job after a number of formal applications, however no current NRL coaches will be among the conversation.
Blues coach search: Retired mentor joins list of candidates
As the NSWRL board prepared to discuss Michael Maguire’s replacement this week, a shock contender has been discussed as an option to take over the coveted role.