Blue warns of difficult switch to centre spot

NSW have laid bare the defensive perils of Darius Boyd’s expected shift to centre for Queensland in next week’s State of Origin II clash.

Test fullback Boyd has never played centre in Origin, while his last full match there was way back in early 2009 for St George Illawarra.

Maroons coach Kevin Walters will clarify his starting line-up today, when it’s anticipated Boyd will be confirmed as left centre alongside debutant winger Valentine Holmes.

That would have them marking up against the Australian Test wing-centre combination of Blake Ferguson and Josh Dugan.

There’s some irony to it, as it was only weeks ago that Queensland were vowing to target former NSW fullback Jarryd Hayne in his first outing as a Blues centre in Game I.

Hayne had at least played his previous three club games there. The mooted Boyd centre move, following Billy Slater’s recall, surprised Ferguson.

“I’ve always seen Darius as a winger when Billy is playing for Queensland – so you probably would have thought he’d play on the wing,” he said.

“You get more decisions to make and your decisions are probably the hardest (at centre). You either go out the back or hit the lead runner, and there will be a bit more tackling for him.”

Ferguson also warned it can take up to three days just to learn edge combinations.