Queensland incumbent Darius Boyd has a message for Origin selectors caught up in the hype surrounding Lote Tuqiri's return to rugby league - don't forget about me.

The St George Illawarra fullback said he was desperate to hold onto his Maroons jersey when Queensland chase a fifth straight series win later this year.

While Tuqiri scored another double on Friday night to take his tally to four tries in three games since his comeback to the NRL, Boyd did his best to impress selectors with another busy performance in the Dragons' 33-8 win over North Queensland in Wollongong.

After struggling to make an impact in his first season with the Dragons, Boyd has this year become a key ingredient in an improving backline - with his break and pass to set up Brett Morris' first try of the night brilliantly executed.

While Tuqiri has been making noise with four-pointers, Boyd has been left hoping his new-found playmaking skills are enough to keep his name in selectors' thoughts.

"A little bit," Boyd said when asked if he'd been keeping track of Tuqiri's progress.

"I'd love to be back there again, it's the best thing I've done so far in my rugby league career.

"Obviously it's in the back of your mind but I just want to keep playing well for the Dragons and hopefully I get there again."

Of course Boyd and Tuqiri could well line up alongside each other in Origin I in Sydney on May 26, with Justin Hodges' Achilles injury having created at least one opening in the backline.

Greg Inglis is a certainty to snare one centre spot, and with Israel Folau expected to nab the other, Boyd, Tuqiri and Warriors veteran Brent Tate will likely battle it out for the remaining two wing berths.

Dragons coach Wayne Bennett claimed Boyd was finally feeling comfortable playing with his new club, with the oft-criticised backline producing some impressive tries against the Cowboys.

"He's a year older and more confident - it comes with maturity," Bennett said of Boyd's improved play.

"He was doing that last year - he's a very smart player and he works things out very quickly out there, he's got a good working relationship with Ben (halfback Ben Hornby).

"He's just a year older. I'd love to say we came up with some magic wand that made him do this, but as a coach I'm telling you what happened."

Boyd admitted the hard work of the pre-season was starting to reap rewards.

"It's been a learning process for all of us and we've all gotten better at it," Boyd said of the Dragons' attacking strategy - which targeted North Queensland's fragile right-side defensive line.

"Last year there was a lot of new blokes and we really concentrated on our defence and we didn't do too much on our attack and I suppose this year we kept the base of what we had in defence and really worked on our attack and I suppose it's paying off."

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP