Queensland Maroons sign Darius Boyd as State of Origin Under-19s coach

The winds of change are sweeping through the Maroons system, with a Queensland legend handed the reins of the under-19s team as the QRL ramps up its plan to develop more Origin coaches.

The Queensland Rugby League has ramped-up its strategic plan to develop more Origin coaches with Broncos champion Darius Boyd handed the reins of the Maroons under-19s team.

This masthead can reveal Boyd will take charge of Queensland’s rising stars in 2025, replacing last year’s under-19s coach Ben Te’o, who has joined Michael Maguire’s team of assistants at the Broncos.

The winds of change are sweeping through the Maroons system, with Maia Tua-Davidson also being promoted to the head-coaching role of the Queensland under-19s women following the departure of Deanna Turner.

When the QRL appointed Billy Slater as senior Origin coach in 2022, there were concerns about the depth in Queensland’s ranks and a plan was put in place to cultivate a new generation of Maroons mentors.

Darius Boyd has signed on to coach the Maroons under-19s teams. Picture: QRL

Slater’s stunning success with the Maroons - he has won two of three series - could indeed be a template for Boyd, who will launch his coaching career armed with one of the code’s most decorated portfolios.

Boyd retired from the NRL in 2020 as one of the finest fullbacks of his generation, amassing 337 NRL games for Brisbane, Newcastle and the Dragons, as well as 23 Tests for Australia and 28 Origin matches for Queensland.

Now 37, Boyd remains the second most prolific tryscorer in Origin history, just one four-pointer behind Greg Inglis (18), and he is relishing the prospect of turning Queensland’s teen aces into senior Maroons stars.

(L-R) Maroons stars Aidan Guerra, Johnathan Thurston, Will Chambers and Boyd celebrate victory after the 2015 Origin series. Picture: Getty Images

“I won’t take this opportunity lightly because it’s a big role and an important role,” said Boyd.

“I was an assistant to Ben Te’o last year and they wanted someone to replace Ben who had played Origin.

“I was interested in coaching my own team and this is a great opportunity.

“We’ve got a junior Emerging Camp coming up. We have roughly 60 names and we will be cutting it back to 30 in the next few days, so it’s exciting to see the talent Queensland has to offer.

“I’m coaching young men, so you are looking after the next generation and what they could possibly become.

“You don’t want to mess it up it any way, shape or form, so I’ll be approaching the job with the same professionalism that I did as a player.”

Aside from working with Te’o last year, Boyd also had a stint with the Broncos under former coach Kevin Walters, where he worked with Brisbane’s outside backs, including superstar custodian Reece Walsh.

Boyd has severed ties with the Broncos’ coaching unit to focus on the junior Maroons job and says his time under Walters has helped prepare him for taking control of his own team.

Boyd has the credentials to potentially one day succeed Slater and the 2010 Clive Churchill Medallist is open to coaching Queensland at a senior level.

Boyd worked at the Broncos alongside former coach Kevin Walters. Picture: Getty Images

“I’ll never say never to anything,” he said.

“That (coaching NRL or State of Origin) is something I need to weigh up.

“I have a young family, I had a little boy three months ago and sometimes that holds me back.

“To be an NRL coach, it’s a big sacrifice to make if I want to go to the next level.

“I just want to upskill myself and be better. If the opportunity (to coach Queensland) does come up, I will keep myself on the right path and be as prepared as I can be.

“That’s my mentality.

“If I want to coach my own team, I needed a taste of that and this opportunity gives me that chance.”

Andrew McCullough will join Boyd as an assistant coach. Pictur: Steve Pohlner

Boyd has hired former Broncos teammate Andrew McCullough as an assistant and says his approach will be shaped by his NRL mentor of 15 years - super coach Wayne Bennett.

“I enjoy the relationships. I like adding value and I think I understand the game well,” he said.

“I had Wayne Bennett for so long and learned so much from him and the thing he showed me is it’s more about relationships, connections, the culture you create and the environment that you have for the playing group that you are with each week.

“I will be the person I am. Your personality is your personality. I won’t change too much. I have certain standards around what I think is achieveable and the way the game is played.

“I’ll be dedicated to the job. From the mental-health work that I’ve done, I enjoy the relationship-building stuff and I would love to see young men have good successful careers in the game.”

Originally published as Queensland Maroons sign Darius Boyd as State of Origin Under-19s coach