Newcastle Knights fullback Darius Boyd requires just one more try to become the leading try-scorer in Origin history.
Boyd is currently locked with Queensland teammate Greg Inglis on 14 tries each heading into tonight’s crucial Game II clash at ANZ Stadium.
The Brisbane-born star has played 18 Origins and scored 56 points since debuting in 2008 to become a mainstay in the Maroons' all-conquering backline.
Queensland assistant coach and former Newcastle premiership-winning mentor Michael Hagan says it would be a stellar achievement if Boyd can create history with another try or two in Sydney tonight.
"I think it would be fantastic," Hagan enthuses.
"It’s been quite an impressive record that both Darius and Greg have created on that left side.
"So if either of them get across the line it might have a reasonable bearing on the outcome of the game.
"Darbs did well to score two and probably unlucky to score three tries in the first Origin.
"He has been part of the team now for six or seven years and has formed that really lethal combination with GI (Inglis), JT (Thurston) and Billy (Slater).
"That’s become a really important part of our structure and a really productive side of the field for us to attack from.
"I guess there is an opportunity with a couple of inexperienced guys on that side in William Hopoate and Josh Dugan."
Boyd has always performed strongly on the Origin stage, an impressive trend that Hagan expects to continue against the Blues.
"I think he thrives on this standard of football," he says.
"There’s no question of his football talent and he has got a different job to do for us on the left wing than what he would have as a fullback for the Knights.
"He really enjoys the role and I think he really enjoys playing outside a bloke like GI and JT as well.
"He has got really good instincts for the game and he is real big game player.
"He has played in a couple of grand finals now and plenty of origin games and probably no bigger origin game than tonight."
