Queensland legend and Maroons selector Darren Lockyer has shed further light on the reasons for selecting Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow at fullback ahead of Reece Walsh for next week’s Origin decider in Sydney.
Revealing the inner thinking of the selection panel that also includes former Maroons great Gene Miles and coach Billy Slater, Lockyer appeared to contradict earlier comments from the Queensland camp, suggesting concerns over conditioning did play a role in the final decision.
“It’s always tough when you’ve got someone like Reece Walsh, and the talent he possesses, to not have him in the 17,” Lockyer explained on the Wide World of Sports QLDER program.
“I think his game is still building, I don’t think he is at his peak yet. There are a couple of things in his own game he would like to be doing better.”
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Lockyer then pointed to the fact Maroons coach Billy Slater suffered a similar posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury to Walsh during his playing days.
“Billy has had a PCL injury, so he knows what they’re like, and I think when you watch Reece playing you can tell he’s still a bit restricted by it.”
Curiously, however, Slater himself dispelled any injury doubts about Walsh at Monday’s team announcement.
“Reece wouldn’t be here if he was injured,” Slater said.
“He’s in a great spot, I’ve had that injury, I know what it is and how it feels, it was purely a decision about who we thought was best for the position at this time.”
Fit or otherwise, Walsh remains in Origin camp as Queensland’s 18th man and is unavailable for the Broncos’ Friday night clash with the Bulldogs.