Valentine Holmes set to win Queensland spot ahead of Darius Boyd

KEVIN Walters is poised to stick with young flyer Valentine Holmes over veteran Darius Boyd on the left wing for Queensland in Origin I.

Broncos claim huge upset Darius Boyd of the Queensland Maroons in action during Game one of the State of Origin series against the NSW Blues at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Wednesday, May 31, 2017. (AAP Image/Dan Peled) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

INCUMBENT Maroons winger Valentine Holmes is set to reclaim his place for Origin I in a move that will see Broncos skipper Darius Boyd controversially snubbed for the series opener.

The Sunday Mail can reveal Holmes is the frontrunner for the Queensland No. 2 jumper and only has to hold his form to stave off Broncos duo Boyd and Corey Oates for the Maroons’ left-wing spot.

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The Queensland team for Origin I at the MCG on June 6 is named Monday week. Boyd was considered the favourite for the left-wing role by virtue of his lethal alliance with centre Greg Inglis, who will return to the Queensland side following a knee reconstruction.

Boyd is one of the great tryscorers in Origin history.

But Queensland coach Kevin Walters publicly backed Holmes, who scored a hat-trick last year in Origin III to spearhead the Maroons’ 22-6 defeat of NSW in the Suncorp decider.

Cronulla flyer Holmes can ram home his Origin claims to Walters when he faces the Bulldogs at fullback at Southern Cross Group Stadium.

“I haven’t seen anything from Valentine to indicate that he wouldn’t be part of what is happening this year with Origin,” Walters said.

“You can’t be at your best every week and he has had a few nights where he could have been better, but as Queenslanders we like what he brings to the table.

“That is particularly the case at the highest level. He is great for Cronulla, but at Origin level he brings a lot.”

Holmes scored four tries in two Origin matches last year.

The development will come as a crushing blow for Boyd, who has been a wonderful servant for Queensland, playing 28 games and scoring 16 of his 17 Origin tries on the left flank.

But concerns over Boyd’s club form for the Broncos, coupled with his early-season hamstring battles, have seen him lose ground at the selection table.

Boyd has had a tumultuous tenure at the Maroons in the past 12 months. He was Queensland’s fullback for Origin I last year, only to be shifted to left centre for Game Two to accommodate returning Storm champion Billy Slater.

The Broncos skipper then broke his hand in Origin II, ruling him of the Suncorp decider in which his wing rival Holmes came of age as a Queensland matchwinner.

Walters would never close the door completely on Boyd but with the Broncos fullback turning 31 in July, there is a real possibility his Origin career is over.

Boyd has one final chance to impress against Parramatta on Thursday, with Queensland selection boss Gene Miles admitting the left-wing spot is the side’s most contentious position.

“All of those three guys (Holmes, Oates and Boyd) are in the mix,” Miles said.

Boyd was Queensland’s player of the series in 2016.

“They have a few games to put their hand up and say I want the left wing spot.

“(Dane) Gagai will have the right wing spot and the other three will figure in the wing selection dilemma.

“Loyalty always will be a factor, but common sense and form must be considered as well.”

Walters said Holmes’ blistering tryscoring form at Origin and Test level is very difficult to ignore. The Sharks speedster has scored 18 tries in 13 appearances for Queensland and Australia.

“Val’s performances in last year’s Origin series and the World Cup with Australia are helping shape his representative career and how good a player he can be,” he said.

“I know he has been a lot better with the Sharks in the last couple of weeks, but he is a definite tryscorer and he has great speed, and that is what Origin is all about.

“We don’t announce the team for a couple of weeks and we’d hope that everyone, including Valentine gets through.”

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