Reece Walsh, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Kalyn Ponga vie to impress Billy Slater
There are two rounds left before the first teams of the State of Origin series are named and Queensland Maroons coach Billy Slater has a full-back dilemma.
Three men are vying for the No.1 jumper made famous by the NRL great. We separate the contestants.
Reece Walsh
For all the attacking wizardry he produced, a single defensive play against the Roosters may have sealed Reece Walsh’s return to Queensland.
With Sydney leading 30-0 against the Broncos, Daniel Tupou’s break created what appeared to be a simple two-on-one play against Walsh and Roosters center Hugo Savala.
But Walsh’s position involved both men and he eventually forced Savala into touch in one of the most elite try-saving tackles of the season. Brisbane scored four unanswered tries, with their momentum halted by Pat Carrigan’s error in attack and Kotoni Staggs being sent to the sin bin.
Walsh would score the first of those tries and set up another, but it was Slater’s never-say-die defensive play that undoubtedly had him standing tall.
“He’s one of those guys who can accomplish anything if he puts his mind to it,” Broncos five-eighth Ezra Mam said of Walsh.
“Just seeing the effort he puts in off the ball and completing his play is pretty impressive. Not many people can save a try like that and it shows the effort he has and the competitiveness of his game.”
“Seeing this [play] Judging by the score line, it’s definitely inspiring for us kids. “Obviously we came up short, but it was really inspiring to see him do that.”
Since Walsh and the Broncos came into form from round 14 last year, the club have conceded an average of eight second-half points per game.
Although injuries prevented him from taking part in last year’s series victory, his title-winning form for the Broncos at the end of the year earned him the Clive Churchill Medal and the Kangaroos jersey.
If he can lead Brisbane, which may be missing up to 15 senior players, to victory against Manly on Saturday night, the stage will be set for the 23-year-old to be reunited with Slater.
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
He is the incumbent who inspired the Maroons’ series-clinching victory in game three last year and has cemented his position as the NRL’s fastest man.
Tabuai-Fidow has also become one of the best support-backs in the game; While he was regularly seen assisting in scoring downfield, he became a lethal aerial threat that Dolphins quarterback Isaiya Katoa exploited.
Perhaps what went against his hopes of gaining the No.1 shot was his versatility, having played most of his Origin career at centres.
He has also operated on the wing and could be used there again given the sidelines of Xavier Coates (Achilles) and Murray Taulagi (concussion), while Valentine Holmes has struggled for form with the Dragons and admitted “I didn’t deserve it this year.”
While Robert Toia seems like the most likely name to be included among the center options, the Cowboys’ young guns Thomas Chester and Jaxon Purdue are off the blocks in 2026. Dane Gagai, Selwyn Cobbo and Gehamat Shibasaki are other outside back options.
Tabuai-Fidow will feature somewhere in the Maroons’ squad and he himself admitted his preference in the Origin arena would be at centre, but Slater is willing to take on any role he sees fit but remains hopeful of locking down one spot for the entire campaign.
“Wherever Billy wants me to play — I played all three positions last year — I think I can go there and do a job,” Tabuai-Fidow said ahead of the Dolphins’ matchup with the Bulldogs on Thursday night.
“HE [playing one position] That’s what you want to do, but if you put the team first you can do anything and be successful with all the kids counting on you.
“My preference would be centre. I think I’ve played most of my matches at center at that level and I know what it means to be a center at that level. But I don’t count the wing, I’ve done a job there before.”
Kalyn Ponga
Kalyn Ponga only needed one game back from a hamstring strain to be back on the Origin radar. Newcastle have struggled in their last three matches, suffering heavy defeats against Penrith, Sydney and Wests Tigers.
They scored 58 points and conceded 124 in those outings. Ponga’s comeback against the high-flying South Sydney Rabbitohs last week changed the Knights’ fortunes; He ran 204 meters, made seven tackle errors, crossed the line and tried to make an assist in the 42-38 victory.
Despite the leaked points, Ponga showed plenty of toughness as he flew towards Latrell Mitchell in an attempt to stop him off the line. However, at this stage it appears that Walsh is running things from the inside.
Playing against Ponga this year was his limited football and he had made a great start in Las Vegas before suffering an injury 28 minutes into the second round. However, the introduction of a six-man bench, where he could play in various positions, was in his favor.
The 28-year-old became a star on his Origin debut in 2018, when he became a lock playing the ball off the bench; He had raced 108 meters from 10 carries, including an agonizing miss from James Tedesco’s decisive try.
“I think Kalyn probably steals that 14 [utility] position… I think Kalyn can play any position, same with Hammer, so I’m sure they’ll both be at No.19,” Maroons captain Cameron Munster said on the Nine’s. 100% Football.
“With the current rules, you can have a bench and pretty much pick anyone you want in case someone gets injured. It’s a great luxury to have that.”
Start your day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
