LEFT FIELD

BOYD IN SHOCK ORIGIN SWITCH

DARIUS Boyd will start at left centre for the first time in his Origin career as Queensland coach Kevin Walters takes a series of gambles to prevent the crash of a famous Maroons dynasty.

Boyd ( pictured) will be stripped of his beloved Queensland No. 1 jumper and ordered to mark NSW Origin centre Josh Dugan in Origin II at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium.

Walters yesterday presided over Queensland’s biggest shake- up in 10 years, blooding four debutants and making seven changes overall for a death- or- glory clash tomorrow week. Rocked by their 28- 4 rout in Origin I, Queensland have officially turned to a new generation – handing debuts to Cowboy Coen Hess, Townsville’s Valentine Holmes, Tim Glasby and Jarrod Wallace.

Such is the intrigue and upheaval surrounding the Maroons, Walters took the bizarre step of naming his 17- man squad in alphabetical order for the first time in Origin history.

The strategy has a multifaceted purpose, with Queensland keen to keep NSW guessing on the composition of their backline following the recall of Storm champion Billy Slater.

But News Corp Australia has obtained Queensland’s starting backline for Origin II.

With Slater reclaiming the fullback spot, Walters will roll the dice by handing the No. 3 jumper to Boyd, who has played none of his 27 Origin matches in the centres. Boyd, Queensland’s incumbent fullback, has played just 21 of his 260 NRL games at centre. He hasn’t played the position for eight years dating back to April 3, 2009 when he faced Justin Hodges in the Dragons’ 25- 12 defeat of Brisbane.

But Walters is backing Boyd to muzzle Dugan. Will Chambers will be shifted to right centre – his preferred spot – to oppose Blues danger man Jarryd Hayne.

Test flyer Holmes will make his Maroons debut on the left wing outside Boyd, with Dane Gagai to remain on the right flank after amassing a superb 218m in Origin I.

Walters was tight- lipped yesterday about where he would play Boyd but was confident he had the backline strike weapons to blow NSW off the park and square the series.

“Over the next few days we will sort where he is going to play,” he said.

“We have just picked 17 players who we feel are the best 17 for Queensland.”

A bullish Walters declared Queensland’s transition period is “right now” after six players were axed – winger Corey Oates, centre Justin O’Neill and forwards Sam Thaiday, Aidan Guerra, Nate Myles and Jacob Lillyman.

Not since 2006, when then coach Mal Meninga named seven new caps, have the Maroons encountered such bloodletting in their quest to retain Origin supremacy.