Could Maroons leave red-hot Walsh out of Origin I?

Queensland selectors could drop a selection bombshell and not pick the hottest player in the NRL for the opening State of Origin game in Adelaide at the end of the month.

While Brisbane Broncos fullback Reece Walsh has been earning rave reviews and polling highly in Dally M Player of the Year voting, there is a real possibility Maroon selectors will stick with Newcastle’s Kalyn Ponga in the No.1 jumper.

Walsh has been the name on everyone’s lips and a majority of “experts” believe he will get the nod from Queensland coach Billy Slater, who played fullback for 31 Origin games between 2004 and 2018 and retired as arguably the best ever in the position.

READ: Queensland SOO Game 1 team predictions – State of Origin 2023

Ponga’s critics claim he is contact-shy following a spate of concussions that have shaken his confidence to a point where it is affecting his play.

But he has only played four games so far this season and understandably his timing and confidence are slightly down since being moved from fullback to five-eighth.

With two more NRL games to improve his form, fitness, timing, and confidence, and playing in a Queensland Origin side packed with stars, Ponga would not let anyone down.

Ironically, if Walsh is overlooked, it would rank as the biggest selection controversy since Slater himself was left out of game one in 2017.

Neither Queensland chairman of selectors Gene Miles nor the coach at the time, Kevin Walters, have ever said publicly that they may have got it wrong, but Miles is on record as describing the decision not to pick Slater as the “toughest call he had had to make in 17 years as a selector”.

“17 years in the job and that is without doubt the toughest decision we’ve had to make. He’s probably the best fullback I’ve ever seen, and we didn’t make that call lightly,” said Miles after the decision was taken to play Darius Boyd ahead of Slater.

Slater was recalled for the second game after NSW destroyed Queensland 28-4 in their own backyard.

The Maroons, with Slater in the No.1, went on to victories in games two and three to clinch the series.

If Walsh is left out on his latest blistering form, it will be a very brave call by Slater, Miles, and fellow selector Darren Lockyer.

But it could happen.

Walsh, as electrifying as he is, still has some fundamental flaws in his game and he is still very young, while Ponga has been there and done the job for Queensland previously when called upon.

It’s going to be an extremely difficult call to make, but a vital one that will have a huge bearing on the outcome of the match.

If Walsh misses out on fullback, there is probably not a spot for him in the Queensland 17.

If, as expected, they start with Ben Hunt at hooker, then Harry Grant will fill the No.14 jumper, and that only leaves room for three big men off the bench.

The other selection dilemma for Queensland is on the wing.

Although Selwyn Cobbo would appear to have secured his jumper, Melbourne’s high-leaping Xavier Coates, Dolphins flash Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, and Cowboys finisher Murray Taulagi are fighting over the other flank.

Tabuai-Fidow, who has been in wonderful form for the Dolphins this season, scored a try in his one and only Origin appearance in the 2021 series decider playing in the centres when Dane Gagai was shifted to the wing.

The way he started the season for Brisbane, Corey Oates would probably have been Cobbo’s wing partner, but he won’t make it back in time from a PCL knee injury he suffered last month.

Queensland, however, have a multitude of forward options this year.

Up front they have Lindsay Collins, Josh Papali’i and Patrick Carrigan backed up by Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Tom Gilbert, Kurt Capewell, Reuben Cotter, Thomas Flegler, Jai Arrow, David Fitter, and Corey Horsburgh, who are all pushing for selection.

“We’ve still got a few games to get through but at this stage, our forward depth is as good as I can remember,” said Miles

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