The Cowra Magpies junior made his debut for Australia in the 2016 Four Nations but after the Raiders failed to make the 2017 finals, Boyd didn’t come into consideration for Kangaroos selection.

An honest Boyd said he probably didn’t deserve another Australian jumper, but says a full pre-season ahead of 2018 could shoot him back into representative calculations next year.

“I did (hurt not making the World Cup squad), but at the same time I don’t think I was playing well enough to get picked.

“I’ll do this pre-season now and get back in shape and hopefully that helps.

“I think I got too heavy after the Four Nations last year, I missed half the pre-season and that came around the get me.

“I think that full pre-season is going to help me this year and hopefully make it a bit easier this year.”

Boyd was also confident the club can cover for star hooker Josh Hodgson.

The English rake ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in his side’s World Cup win over Tonga in November and could miss Canberra’s entire 2018 campaign as a result.

Boyd believes the Green Machine will be able to cover the loss of one of their best players and live up the hype that billed Ricky Stuart’s squad as premiership favourites ahead of last year.

“Hodgo is a big loss but I’m sure the boys will step up a gear and take over,” the Cowra Magpies junior said..

“He’ll still be around the club and still be a leader around the club. He’s not gone, he’s just out for a little while.”