Support for Boyd to return

BILLY Slater has urged Maroons coach Kevin Walters to not forget about Darius Boyd after Kalyn Ponga burst into favouritism to be Queensland’s next fullback.

Slater yesterday announced he would retire from the representative arena after this year’s State of Origin series.

The 34- year- old fullback will make his 30th Origin appearance for Queensland in next Wednesday’s series opener at the MCG.

Slater’s retirement follows the representative exits of Test and Origin legends Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Johnathan Thurston, who hung up their Maroon jerseys after last year’s third straight series win.

The “Big Four” have been at the centre of Queensland’s Origin dominance, which has seen the Maroons win 11 of the past 12 series. Slater’s exit will open the door for a new fullback to be crowned and at the top of the pile is the supremely talented Ponga.

Ponga, 20, has only played 21 NRL games, but is rated so highly that Walters will bring him into Camp Maroon throughout this series to get a taste of the Origin set- up.

Broncos captain Boyd, a 28game Maroons representative, was overlooked for Game One, but Slater said he should be in contention for a return.

“There is a lot of hype around Kalyn and he is a fantastic young player,” Slater said. “I’ve got no doubt he will play for Queensland one day. But Darius Boyd is a fantastic No. 1 as well and has been there. He is very experienced.”