Cricket
Motorsport
Basketball test
League - Test
Combat Sports
Netball
Football
Should Reece Walsh have been selected for Game I?
Nicholas Quinlan • May 28th, 2026 2:23 am
Justin Horo and Jimmy Smith have debated whether Billy Slater should have selected Reece Walsh following the Maroons’ heartbreaking loss to NSW on Wednesday.
Coming into Origin camp, Walsh’s omission from Billy Slater’s 20-man squad was one of the bigger calls made, having opted to pick Ponga instead.
Despite some backlash, the Knights' fullback had performed well, having run for 121 metres whilst managing an equal team high of four tackle breaks and one line break assist.
But at the 57th minute mark, Ponga was sent off for a shoulder charge on Tolutau Koula, who took no further part in the match after failing a HIA.
With the element of Ponga being sent off, Horo believes that if Walsh was on the extended bench and came on after the sending off, the match could have ended differently.
But Smith openly disagreed, noting the Broncos’ fullback game style would not have suited the match situation, resulting in a hotly contested debate.
Horo: “I think there's gotta be scrutiny about Billy Slater not selecting Reece Walsh now,”
“Imagine if he has Reece Walsh instead of (Gehamat) Shibasaki or Ezra (Mam) on the bench?”
Smith: “OK, how does that play out? How does that change (the result)?
Horo: “He comes straight on and goes to fullback,”
“You can still bring a player and change someone else out.
“So you take a middle forward off, you bring, Reece Walsh into fullback, and then you don't change your edges because Kurt Capewell leaves it an edge in the middle of the field.”
Smith: “You know Hamiso (Tabiua-Fidow) is a very accomplished fullback?”
Horo: “Come on, 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.”
Smith: “I'll put it to you this way.”
“I had Reece Walsh in the side at fullback ahead of Kalyn Ponga.
“But that game at that time was not for Reece Walsh.”
Horo: “Oh, I disagree. I think Reece Walsh changes the dynamic (and) the look of the final 20 minutes.”
For the Grade Two shoulder charge, Ponga will be deducted 23% of his match fee should he accept an early plea.
Game II takes place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on June 17.
