EXCLUSIVE: “Astonished” Joey Claims Reece Walsh’s Omission Will Impact Maroons in Two Critical Aspects

Andrew Johns has expressed his surprise at Billy Slater’s decision to select Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow over Reece Walsh for the fullback position in Queensland’s line-up ahead of the State of Origin decider.

With Kalyn Ponga sidelined due to a foot injury, Slater was compelled to reconfigure his Maroons backline, resulting in Tabuai-Fidow stepping into the fullback role and Gehamat Shibasaki making an unexpected debut in the centre.

Walsh, who held the fullback position last year, now finds himself in the 18th man role for game three, which could limit his involvement in the Origin series in 2025. He may see playing time if other players suffer concussions during the match.

Defending his choice, Slater expressed confidence in Tabuai-Fidow, stating he is “the right fit for the footy team right now.”

However, rugby league legend Johns felt Walsh would have been the more suitable option for the crucial series.

“I was quite taken aback,” Johns remarked during his segment on Nine’s Freddy and the Eighth.

“I genuinely thought they would go for Reece Walsh without hesitation.

“I found it surprising since ‘the Hammer’ is a player who flourishes when someone else is creating opportunities for him. In contrast, Reece is more capable of playing like a halfback.”

Phil Gould, a former coach for New South Wales, echoed this sentiment, suggesting Slater may have opted for Tabuai-Fidow to avoid overcrowding in the playmaking roles.

Just prior to the Origin selection, Tabuai-Fidow made a compelling case for his inclusion by scoring four tries in a dominant 50-28 victory for the Dolphins against the Rabbitohs.

While Johns was uncertain if that performance influenced Slater’s decision, he noted that Tabuai-Fidow might not be able to respond to kicks with the same “dangerous” speed as Walsh.

“I think Tabuai-Fidow doesn’t return the ball as quickly or dangerously as Reece Walsh does,” he stated.

“Origin football involves kick reception. If you look at NSW’s kick reception, they have Dylan Edwards, Brian To’o, widely regarded as one of the best dummy half runners, and Zac Lomax.

“On the Queensland side, you’ve got the Hammer bringing the ball back and Xavier Coates, who is an extraordinary athlete but doesn’t break through the lines, and then there’s Valentine Holmes.

“I reckon NSW’s back three offers a better advantage in terms of kick reception and getting out of trouble.”

“In recent weeks, Walsh has been shifting over to the left side with the Broncos and making plays for Gehamat,” Johns added.

“He creates opportunities for a lot of players and takes pressure off Cam Munster and Tommy Dearden, which is why I was genuinely surprised he isn’t in the mix.”

Brad Fittler, the former NSW Blues coach, theorised that Slater’s choice might stem from a belief that Tabuai-Fidow could find creative ways to capitalise on opportunities.

“He has the knack of turning the smallest chances into tries, so perhaps Billy is counting on that,” Fittler remarked.

“Once he breaks through the line, he’s unstoppable.

“However, if the penalties are kept to a minimum and you’re dropping the ball… Reece Walsh could create all sorts of problems. If you maintain a 90% completion rate, you could potentially neutralise him with a solid kicking game.

“If that is Billy’s mindset, then New South Wales may have the upper hand.”