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Queensland coach Mal Meninga says Brisbane fullback Darius Boyd will be picked for the opening State of Origin clash as long as he gets through his next NRL match.
Boyd will play against North Queensland on Friday night, a week after making his return in the Broncos’ win over Penrith following a pre-season Achilles injury.
More State of Origin:
» State of Origin News
» State of Origin team news
» Pick your own NSW Blues team for Origin 1
» Pick your own Queensland Maroons team for Origin 1
Meninga said he admired the return of the 27-year-old, who battles depression.
“I was very excited about it as I didn’t expect it,” Meninga said at the MCG, where game two will be played on June 17.
“Darius has obviously been working really hard to get back on the field.
“He’s gone through a pretty horrid time with personal issues and has handled that extremely well.
“He’s got one more game for the Broncs against the Cowboys and we hope he gets through it and if he does he’ll be picked.”
Meninga said due to his loyalty to his players, the team for the opening match against NSW on May 27 was mostly settled.
Broncos prop Josh McGuire is on the cusp of being a new face in the Maroons line-up despite missing the clash with the Cowboys through suspension.
“He’s due,” Meninga said.
“He’s playing really good footy so in my mind, and I know we had a selectors meeting earlier this week, and in their mind he’s right up there.”
In Blues news, NSW Origin coach Laurie Daley says St George Illawarra fullback Josh Dugan is a certainty for game one although he’s not sure what position he will play.
Daley kept his halves selection cards close to his chest, but did give away that Dugan had done enough to play in the opening match in Sydney on May 27.
“Josh will be in the team, it’s just a matter of where he will play,” Daley said.
Still to decide on his halves combination, Daley admits he is “comfortable” with a club combination but he isn’t ruling out the possibility of splitting teammates.
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