Boyd will miss decider
QUEENSLAND have suffered another crushing blow, with star utility back Darius Boyd ruled out of the State of Origin decider with a broken thumb.
The Broncos skipper will miss up to six weeks after scans last night showed he suffered a fracture in his right hand during Queensland’s epic 18- 16 victory in Origin II on Wednesday night.
Boyd will undergo surgery in the next 48 hours.
The revelation 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 tomorrow’s clash against the Raiders in Canberra.
Speaking exclusively with News Corp, Broncos coach Wayne Bennett confirmed Boyd faces an extended stint on the sidelines – rubbing him out of Origin III on July 12.
“We weren’t quite sure how bad it was, but there is a small fracture there,” Bennett said.
“It will be six weeks maximum. He is having surgery in the next couple of days and it’s not ideal, but we have to get on with things.
“It’s never an easy time of year for the clubs. You want your best players to play Origin but you know at times you pay a price for that and we are going to pay a pretty big price now with Darius.
“That’s the way it is. We have to move on at the Broncos and do our best.”
The Boyd blow is also a major setback for the Maroons, who are sweating on the fitness of Johnathan Thurston for his Origin finale after he suffered a fresh shoulder injury in Queensland’s series levelling win.
The results of Thurston’s scans will be known today, but the one certainty is that Boyd will be missing from the Queensland side for a Suncorp Stadium blockbuster.
Boyd played his 28th consecutive Origin game and was the player most likely to break Thurston’s record of 36 straight matches, but the Cowboys ace’s 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.
Without Boyd, Queensland coach Kevin Walters faces a major selection conundrum at centre.
Walters could recall Justin O’Neill and return Will Chambers to left centre for the Origin 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.
The Broncos will finalise their starting side at the captain’s run at Red Hill today.
Jordan Kahu could shift 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.
“I will talk to a couple of the players and make a final call on Darius’ replacement at training,” Bennett said.
“The good news is Darius will be back this season. We have a bye during that period so we expect him to miss no more than five club games.”