State of Origin 2017: Darius Boyd ruled out of Origin decider with a broken thumb

THE Maroons are already feeling the toll of their victory in Origin II with Darius Boyd to miss the decider with a broken thumb.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — JUNE 21: Darius Boyd of the Maroons is tackled during game two of the State of Origin series between the New South Wales Blues and the Queensland Maroons at ANZ Stadium on June 21, 2017 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

QUEENSLAND have suffered a devastating blow with star utility back Darius Boyd ruled out of the Origin decider with a broken thumb.

The Courier-Mail can reveal Boyd will miss up to six weeks after scans confirmed he suffered a fracture in his right hand during Queensland’s epic 18-16 victory in Origin II.

Boyd will undergo surgery in the coming days.

The development also has implications for the Broncos, who have already lost Anthony Milford for six weeks with a shoulder injury and will be without Boyd for Saturday night’s clash against the Raiders in Canberra.

It is a major setback for the Maroons, who are sweating on the fitness of Boyd’s backline cohort Johnathan Thurston for the Origin decider on July 12 after he suffered a fresh shoulder injury in Queensland’s series-levelling win.

The results of Thurston’s scans will be known on Friday, but the one certainty is that Boyd will be missing from the Queensland side for Origin III.

Boyd played the second half with a broken thumb.

Boyd played his 28th consecutive Origin game on Wednesday and was the player most likely to break Thurston’s record of 36 straight matches, but the North Queensland ace’s remarkable streak is now safe.

While Thurston was brave in Origin II, Boyd was equally courageous.

It is believed the Broncos skipper, playing centre for the first time in eight years, suffered the injury sometime during the first half, meaning he played at least 40 minutes with a broken thumb.

BOO HOO: Cocky Blues fall apart

FIRE UP: The Maroons secret weapon

Without Boyd, Queensland coach Kevin Walters faces a major selection conundrum at centre.

Walters could recall Justin O’Neill, dropped after Origin I, and return Will Chambers to left centre for the decider.

A left-field option could be blooding another young gun in Melbourne’s utility sensation Cameron Munster, who was 18th man for Origin II and is capable of playing fullback, centre, five-eighth and lock.

Boyd is out of the Origin decider.

The Broncos will finalise their starting side at the captain’s run at Red Hill on Friday.

Broncos coach Wayne Bennett has yet to decide on a replacement for Boyd but could shift Jordan Kahu to fullback with David Mead, who was outstanding for Wynnum Manly last Sunday in the Intrust Super Cup, a wing possibility.

Another option is for Benji Marshall to move to the backfield, which would enable Bennett to promote Ben Hunt off the bench to return to the halves with Kodi Nikorima.

Originally published as State of Origin 2017: Darius Boyd ruled out of Origin decider with a broken thumb