Boyd’s injury scare Thurston all set but Kangaroos face new superstar concern
to the sideline and was overheard telling physio Tony Ayoub “it’s feeling tight’’.
After a quick massage, Boyd was ushered away into a van and taken back to the team hotel for further assessments. He continued to receive treatment last night.
Coach Mal Meninga was confident Boyd would be fit to start, but also aware of his decent back-up options.
Josh Dugan and Valentine Holmes briefly filled in at fullback during some drills after Boyd departed.
“We also have other fullbacks waiting in the wings as well in James Tedesco or a Billy Slater,’’ Meninga said.
“But Darius will be fine. It’s precautionary. onary.
“He has a bit of tightness in the hammy, y, he’s fine, there was no tear, and he’s just getnt.” getting treatment.”
On a brighter righter note, Thurston rston looked to be e fit as he put his calf through its paces. Provided vided Thurston feels eels no stiffness or pain in his calf this morning, orning, he will line up against the Kiwis. He completed last Thursday’s captain’s run for North Queensland, but pulled up lame on Frida Friday and was a late scratch scratching against Parramatta. He said o on Monday if he felt a “q “quarter of the soreness’’soreness he felt last week, he would pull the pin. T Thurston arrived rive late on to the field, underwent went a series of stretches stretches, completed some pa passing drills with Boyd, then did not miss a beat as he bounced around the main session.
Impossible to miss in green and gold striped socks, Thurston went on to complete some tackling drills with Kangaroos assistant Trevor Gillmeister, then completed some kicking from the 55m line by himself.
Given the short turnaround, the Aussies only had two field sessions this week. Roosters pair Boyd Cordner and Blake Ferguson played in New Zealand on Sunday and lost a day in travel.