Boyd stuns Walters

QUEENSLAND coach Kevin Walters had no idea Darius Boyd was set to step away from representative football after last week telling him he was still in the mix for a State of Origin recall.

The long-serving Maroons and Kangaroos back revealed this week he had decided to end his time in the representative arena to give the next generation of stars their chance.

The shock announcement from the Broncos skipper even took Walters by surprise.

The Maroons mentor said yesterday he had spoken to Boyd on the Monday before Game One and let him know his Origin career wasn’t over. But Boyd made a different decision since then and Walters said he respected that.

“I didn’t think he was thinking that way but I can understand,” Walters said.