NRL legends blow the whistle on the explosive truth behind Maroons coach Billy Slater’s shocking Origin squad selection
The real reason Reece Walsh wasn’t picked for Queensland has come to light as a NSW great revealed the phone call behind the decision to leave him out.
NSW great James Maloney has revealed Reece Walsh would almost certainly have been picked for the Queensland Maroons if not for a phone call with Billy Slater.
Announcing the squad for State of Origin Game 1 on Monday, Slater stunned the NRL world by leaving Walsh out of his 20-man squad entirely.
Explaining his decision, the Queensland coach said Kalyn Ponga – who was named at fullback – was in a “sweet spot” of form compared to Walsh, who had not played “his best football” upon returning from a facial fracture two weeks ago.
However, Maloney – who represented the NSW Blues on 14 occasions – said on news.com.au’s Extended Bench that there was more to the story, revealing Walsh had informed Slater he wasn’t right to go for Origin 1, due to concerns around his facial fracture – the third of his career after previous incidents in both 2023 and 2024.
Walsh has been wearing headgear with a piece of custom-made padding attached to protect his face since returning, but Maloney says he still isn’t 100 per cent.
“I heard that Reece Walsh had a conversation with Billy Slater and he just said with his facial fracture that he just isn’t 100 per cent,” Maloney revealed on news.com.au’s Extended Bench.
“To me that makes sense. I don’t know why else you’d leave him out and I don’t think Billy (Slater) would leave him out if he was alright.
“But if he’s said I’m not quite right then he (Slater) went okay I’ll leave you (out of the team) and I reckon he’s a big chance of being involved in Game 2 and 3.
“If you’re not 100 per cent confident and you have to put your body on the line and you’re concerned about it it would be a problem.”
Maloney said while he was glad Walsh wasn’t named for NSW’s sake, he understands the decision not to pick a not 100 per cent Walsh.
“I think as a New South Welshman I am happy for Reece Walsh not to be there. If we’re talking about leg speed and as guys get tired the last thing you want is Kalyn Ponga, Hammer and Walsh somewhere that’s a scary prospect as people are getting tired on the field,” Maloney said on news.com.au’s Extended Bench.
“(But) if you’re not at full strength and you can’t train, you can’t do all that stuff and everything to the you know to your best abilities.
“If you got to sit out of sessions and different things, then it’s sort of you’re better off to go with someone who’s 100 per cent fit.”
It comes after Roosters great Luke Keary claimed Slater wasn’t telling the whole story about Walsh’s omission, declaring “something doesn’t add up”.
Keary pointed to comments made by Cameron Smith, who served as an assistant coach for the Maroons under head coach Slater for two seasons in 2022 and 2023, suggesting he knew the Broncos star was set to be axed when Smith said he wouldn’t pick Walsh in the squad at all.
“Last week Cam Smith, Queensland legend and very close friend of Billy Slater, named his Queensland team and it didn’t have Reece Walsh in it,” Keary said on Channel 7’s The Agenda Setters on Monday night.
“Cam Smith works at the Brisbane Broncos as a leadership consultant, so he’s obviously close with Reece and that team, for him to not have (Walsh) in that team, it was very, very bizarre to me. Very bizarre.
“There’s something that doesn’t add up and I don’t know how to explain it.”
Keary added that “no way” Walsh’s axing was simply a form issue.
“It’s obviously a conversation Billy will have with Reece in the background,” Keary continued.
Fans were stunned by Walsh’s omission from the Maroons squad. Image: Getty
“I just find it very hard to believe that the Clive Churchill medallist, the best player in the Ashes series, he’s probably the best player, behind Nathan Cleary, when he’s on — and he hasn’t been off this year.
“He got injured, but he hasn’t been off, and Kalyn’s been injured too. This isn’t like Kalyn’s absolute lit up the competition.”
While Smith spoke on Walsh’s omission on Nine’s 100% Footy, stating he believes the 23-year-old may have been dropped due to his defensive frailties and his overall management of the defensive line.
“Billy might look at positioning,” Smith said at the start of the month on ‘100% Footy’. “I think their (Walsh and Ponga’s) work away from the football. I think they’re both brilliant players in attacking positions and can break games open.
“But it’s the work they do, particularly in defence, to help position their defensive line. That’s what Billy will be looking at the most. That’s what made him the greatest fullback in our game.”
QUEENSLAND 20-MAN SQUAD
1. Kalyn Ponga (Knights)
2. Selwyn Cobbo (Dolphins)
3. Robert Toia (Roosters)
4. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins)
5. Jojo Fifita (Titans)
6. Cameron Munster (Storm)
7. Sam Walker (Roosters)
8. Thomas Flegler (Dolphins)
9. Harry Grant (Storm)
10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (Titans)
11. Reuben Cotter (Cowboys)
12. Kurt Capewell (Warriors)
13. Max Plath (Dolphins)
Interchange
14. Briton Nikora (Sharks)
15. Trent Loiero (Storm)
16. Lindsay Collins (Roosters)
17. Patrick Carrigan (Broncos)
18. Ezra Mam (Broncos)
19. Gehamat Shibasaki (Broncos)
20. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki (Dolphins)