Reece Walsh in major twist after three Queensland stars ruled out of State of Origin 2
Billy Slater has some big decisions to make after a double injury blow.
Reece Walsh is firming for a spot on the Queensland bench for State of Origin 2 after Pat Carrigan and Gehamat Shibasaki were ruled out on Monday. In a brutal double blow for Queensland and the Broncos, Carrigan suffered a syndesmosis injury in Round 13 that will sideline him for three to four weeks.
Shibasaki suffered a Grade 2 MCL injury in the same game and will miss five to six weeks, meaning he’s in danger of missing the rest of the Origin series. Maroons coach Billy Slater is now without three gun players for Origin 2, with halfback Tom Dearden not due to return for another three weeks.
Shibasaki was unused on the six-man interchange bench in Origin 1, even after Kalyn Ponga was sent off. Slater made the interesting decision to shift second-rower Kurt Capewell to centre instead of putting Shibasaki on the field.
With Shibasaki’s injury and Ezra Mam being out of form, calls are growing for Slater to pick Walsh for Game 2. The Maroons went without Walsh for Game 1 because they thought he was playing without confidence.
Tellingly he didn’t wear head-gear or a face guard on Sunday against the Dragons in a key indication he’s fully recovered from his cheekbone fracture. The fullback wasn’t at his best against St George Illawarra, but did provide two late try assists to get the Broncos within four points after they trailed by 22.
Calls for Reece Walsh to return for State of Origin 2
Leading journo Robert Craddock wrote in The Courier Mail on Tuesday: “Queensland are one down in the series. They need an injection of stardust. Walsh may be below his best but can you imagine the snap and crackle he could provide coming on with 15 minutes to play in Melbourne?”
Speaking after Game 1, NRL commentator Justin Horo said Slater missed a trick by not having Walsh on his bench. “Imagine if he has Reece Walsh instead of Shibasaki or Ezra on the bench?” Horo said on SEN radio. “And then you don’t change your edges because Kurt Capewell stays at edge and in the middle of the field.
“You can’t tell me honestly, you would not have preferred Reece Walsh to come on the field with 20 minutes to go on that game, please. I think Reece Walsh changes the dynamic (and) the look of the final 20 minutes.”
As for Carrigan’s replacement, the likes of Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, Heilum Luki, Tom Gilbert, Corey Horsburgh and Moeaki Fotuaika will all come into consideration.
Reece Walsh under fire over ‘poor’ act that could ruin hopes of recall for State of Origin 2
The Brisbane Broncos fullback has been called out for a moment in the defeat to the Dragons.
Reece Walsh has been called out for a concerning moment against the Dragons that could work against him for Origin selection. Queensland coach Billy Slater was called out for not having a fullback on his bench when Kalyn Ponga was controversially given his marching orders in the second-half of Origin 1.
Slater shifted second-rower Kurt Capewell to the centres with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow moving to fullback. Unfortunately, the Blues targeted Capewell in the centres with his lack of speed exposed with a man disadvantage.
James Tedesco also out-jumped Tabuai-Fidow for the match-winning try as NSW pulled off a spectacular comeback. The lack of a player of Walsh’s calibre on the bench did raise eyebrows after the match.
This meant Walsh had an opportunity in the NRL to show Slater he deserves a call-up back into the Queensland squad for Game 2. However, he struggled for 65 minutes against the Dragons on Sunday as he failed to ignite the Broncos’ attack.
Walsh seemed rushed when trying to force the play. And veteran NRL reporter Dean Ritchie has pointed out a ‘poor’ moment from the fullback against the Dragons that won’t have impressed Slater.
The Broncos No.1 hit the ground hard and failed to get up quickly enough after an aerial duel in the second half, potentially presuming the ball was knocked on by Dragons winger Setu Tu. However the ball went backwards and it was play on, and it led to Tu scoring in the corner.
In Walsh’s defence he would have been reeling from the heavy contact, but his inability to get back to his feet helped the Dragons score. The Dragons made three passes for the ball to go back across Walsh on the blind-side – as the fullback remained on the ground – to Tu for a try. And Ritchie feels Walsh’s effort areas were not there against the Dragons.
“That was poor from Reece Walsh… just lying there on the ground is a poor look,” he said on NRL 360 on Monday night. “It only vindicates my assessment of Reece this year, he has been off from the start. If that was your teammate, would you be dirty?”