The Queensland Maroons took to the field today for their first day of Origin training camp on the Gold Coast. And new head coach Kevin Walters showed a calm approach to the job.

Joshua Cheadle reports.

TRANSCRIPT

The Maroons took to the field today with some light drills in their first formal training session.

Crowd favourite Jonathan Thurston was his usual chirpy self.

But the Queensland five-eighth didn’t participate in any of the contact drills.

He’s nursing a sore hip after a hit last week in the NRL from now Queensland team-mate Josh McGuire.

Greg Inglis, Queensland Maroons: “It’s just some bruising, he’ll get over it. You know, it’s JT he’s come back from worse things than that.”

Darius Boyd will play at fullback for the Maroons replacing the injured Billy Slater.

Slater has taken up a coaching role with the Maroons working with the younger outside backs including debutant Corey Oates from the Broncos.

Billy Slater, Maroons Assistant: “Corey gets an opportunity this year and he’s played in some really big games already so I’m sure he’ll be ready for the challenge.”

Oates is one of six Broncos players to line up for the Maroons.

Giving Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett plenty of headaches ahead of their game against Wests Tigers at Suncorp Stadium tomorrow night.

Wayne Bennett, Broncos Coach: “We’ll find that out tomorrow, how good our depth is, it’ll be a challenge for us and the Tigers will be keen to play well.”

The Queensland Origin side have lost four of their last five games at ANZ Stadium.

While today wasn’t a big day in terms of training, the Maroons will ramp up preparations here at Sanctuary Cove before flying out to Sydney.

Joshua Cheadle, QUT News.