Boyd hopeful Thurston OK for Anzac Test

Darius Boyd is hopeful Johnathan Thurston will play in the Anzac Test but is not confident he will keep his fullback spot.

North Queensland Cowboys captain Johnathan Thurston (C)

Darius Boyd is hopeful Johnathan Thurston (pic) will play next month's Anzac Test in Canberra. (AAP)

Incumbent fullback Darius Boyd has his fingers crossed Johnathan Thurston will play next month's Anzac Test in Canberra.

But Boyd is not so hopeful about keeping his place at fullback in the Australian rugby league side.

Boyd was encouraged by news that Test playmaker Thurston's calf injury suffered in North Queensland's last round NRL loss to Wests Tigers wasn't as bad as first thought.

Thurston will be racing the clock to be fit for the May 5 Test after reports the inspirational half may be sidelined for up to a month.

"I haven't heard much but one month is good," Brisbane skipper Boyd said.

"He never stays down or goes off so you knew it was something pretty serious (when he came off against Tigers).

"So fingers crossed he can come back in time."

Boyd made the Test and Queensland No.1 jersey his own last year, recapturing the form that earned him the 2010 Clive Churchill Medal for premiership winners St George Illawarra.

However, Boyd believed his days in the role may be numbered after Melbourne veteran Billy Slater's return from shoulder dramas.

Asked if he expected to keep his Test spot, Boyd said on Tuesday: "I don't know about that.

"I don't think I have been playing at my best.

"I definitely think I can improve. I want to do that and worry about that (Test) stuff later."

Boyd said he was taking no comfort in the fact he was the incumbent Test fullback.

"Yeah, but Billy was the incumbent eight years before that," he said.

"He's a class player and one of the best fullbacks to play the game.

"Whatever happens, happens.

"All I want is to get back to playing some good footy here."


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Source: AAP



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