Slater will officially unveil his team at 9am on Monday morning and he has dropped Walsh from the squad altogether, opting for Kalyn Ponga at fullback.
Watch every game of every round of the NRL Premiership LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo?
Join now and get your first month for just $1.
Walsh hasn’t been at his scintillating best this year and his chances weren’t helped by the Broncos’ 42-12 loss to the Warriors on Sunday.
7.45am – Footy world reacts to Walsh axing NSW fans will surely be breathing easier seeing Reece Walsh hasn’t been picked by Billy Slater.
“Billy Slater must have seen something he doesn’t like,” NRL reporter Adam Pengilly said on Sky Sports Big Breakfast about Walsh’s omission.
Ben Damon added: “Don’t you find a position for him somewhere on that extended bench for Queensland to have the most exciting player in rugby league?”.
“If I was picking the team, I’d pick Reece,” Broncos coach Michael Maguire said.
“I’m obviously pretty fond of what he’s capable of doing, and I get to see it every day.
“He’s working hard, he’s doing things in the background, and I think no matter what happens with Reece .
He knows he’s got to keep working hard at his game, and if he does that then those opportunities will come about at the right time.” 6.50am – New halfback among six Qld debutants In the other major selection call, Roosters halfback Sam Walker will make his Origin debut in Queensland’s No.
7 jersey, getting the nod after Tom Dearden went down with injury.
There had been speculation Ponga could be picked in the halves, but Slater has opted for Walker to partner Cameron Munster.
Walker is one of several debutants named in the squad, according to Code Sports.
Titans player Jojo Fifita has earned a spot on the wing, Dolphins utility Max Plath has been named in the No.
13 lock position, while Briton Nikora, Kulikefu Finefeuiaki and Ezra Mam are on the extended interchange bench.
Selwyn Cobbo has been recalled to the Maroons on the wing, while Robert Toia keeps his spot in the centres from last year and Gehamat Shibasaki is on the extended bench.
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has been picked in the centres.
Five Dolphins players are in the squad, including Tom Flegler, who is back in Queensland’s Origin squad for the first time since 2023 before he suffered a serious shoulder injury.
Incumbent Queensland forwards Linday Collins and Patrick Carrigan have been named on the bench.
Kiwi Test backrower Briton Nikora is the first Maroon to be picked under Origin’s new eligibility rules.
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)
Billy Slater, Reece Walsh omission, Sam Walker Queensland, Origin debut, Kalyn Ponga fullback, Queensland 20-man squad