Billy unpacks his Game III selection choices
Maroons coach Billy Slater breaks down breaks down his selection choices for the Game III decider in Sydney, the processs he undertakes when evaluating players for the top spots, and why Gehamat Shibasaki and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow fit the bill. Plus, hear Billy's thoughts on the return of Josh Papali'i to the Origin circuit, and what the veteran will bring to a younger Maroons side in the decider. The Billy Slater Podcast with Billy and Peter Psaltis thanks to TAB - For the best time in sport, TAB has the best app in sport. TAB, We're On.
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Perth Now
an hour ago
- Perth Now
Maroons find diamond in rough as Gem sheds happy tears
They call him 'Gem' and the rise of Gehamat Shibasaki from rugby league limbo to Queensland debutant is the ultimate diamond in the rough story. The 27-year-old centre has gone from zero to hero at Brisbane after not having an NRL deal in the pre-season. Now, after scoring 12 tries in 15 matches for the Broncos, Shibasaki will make State of Origin history as the first player on a development-list contract to play Origin football. Maroons coach Billy Slater said this week that Shibasaki had 'an inspirational story' to tell and the pride and emotion with which he spoke in camp on Tuesday was palpable. The phone call he fielded from Slater to tell him he was playing in the Origin decider in Sydney next week was a dream come true. Now he wants to make the most of the opportunity and ensure his first match as a Maroon is not a one-off. 'I didn't have Billy's number saved so I answered it. It was a wholesome conversation and one I dreamed of as a kid,' he said. 'I am trying to soak it all in and focus on each day. My family is so happy and there's been a lot of happy tears. 'I will take this experience and fingers crossed it's a continuing thing playing for Queensland. 'I am ready. I am prepared for this. Madge (Broncos coach Michael Maguire) said to me that if you prepare well, you will be ready and I will be prepared for this. 'I've done the hard work.' Shibasaki, a former three-time Queensland Under 20s representative, was playing for Townsville Blackhawks in the Queensland Cup last year. By chance it was a conversation with fellow Broncos and Maroons teammate Pat Carrigan that inspired him to aim higher. 'I was pretty happy with working and playing footy at the Blackhawks,' he said. 'The pressure of NRL, I didn't feel like going through that again, but Patty came to town to play the Cowboys and that lit the fire again. 'It was just a 'wake up to yourself' sort of thing where Patty said to come back for one more try and 'come and live with me if you want'. 'Now he is asking me for fuel money. 'I gave Wynnum a call, they gave me a chance, and it's gone from there.' Shibasaki still had no guarantees and had to earn his chance, moving from a train and trial deal with the Broncos to the development list contract he is currently on. 'I'm on a development deal so I have a lot to prove. I am just playing my best footy,' he said. 'Six months ago, I didn't have a contract. I was just scraping through ... fighting my way through the pre-season and trying to get fit. 'I just kept working hard and I knew after Christmas the footy would come along. 'It's all paid off. We have some outstanding players in the background at the Broncos so we are all fighting each other for a spot. 'I'm just focusing on my role.'
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
‘There'll be another change': Qld legend predicts late Maroons switch for Origin decider
Cooper Cronk is expecting Queensland coach Billy Slater to make a late change to his starting side for next week's State of Origin decider. Slater confirmed his Game 3 squad on Monday, naming Broncos centre Gehamat Shibasaki to make his Origin debut and recalling Josh Papalii two years after the veteran prop retired from rep footy. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow was named at fullback and Reece Walsh was named as 18th man, with Slater insisting the battle for the No. 1 jersey came down to form, not Walsh's ongoing knee injury. But Slater might not be done making changes. Speaking on Fox League's Matty & Cronk show, Queensland great Cronk believes Slater will bring Pat Carrigan into the starting line-up on game day. Carrigan was dropped to the bench for Game 2 for Storm forward Trent Loiero and Slater stuck with the same option on his team sheet for Game 3. But Cronk is expecting the Broncos star to be given the No. 13 jersey as Slater looks to add grunt to his forward pack. 'I suggest there'll be another change to the starting team because of the influence of 'Papa',' Slater said. 'I like it (Papalii's selection). I really do, him and Tino up front. 'If I'm Billy, I'd make a late change and start Carrigan. Reason being, you look at the starting middle rotation for NSW. It will be (Max) King, (Payne) Haas and Isaah Yeo. 'Haas is hard to handle. But Carrigan, Tino and Papa I think could physically outmuscle King when he runs the footy, and Yeo when he runs the footy. 'I would say the presence of Papa is going to ignite something in the Queensland forward pack and I'd run all-out to start the game. Carrigan in the front row and go 'take 'em on'.' 'I think Papa's a good move. Tino's going to be inspired playing alongside him. If you start the game with Patrick Carrigan, I think it could be a good thing. Matty Johns said he would have picked Walsh at fullback but understood Slater's decision to go with Tabuai-Fidow. NSW coach Laurie Daley named an unchanged team for Game 3, backing in Bulldogs prop King and Storm forward Stefano Utoikamanu on the bench. Daley said Nathan Cleary was still managing a groin injury he sustained in the lead-up to Game 1 and he wasn't expecting him to do the goalkicking in Game 3. 'We think he'll be 100 per cent fit but I don't think he'll be goalkicking,' Daley told NRL 360 on Monday. 'That'll be up to Nathan and how he's travelling, but I wouldn't expect him to goalkick. I think Zac (Lomax) will do a great job for us. 'It's just unfortunate before Game 1 he twinged his groin. He did a really great job to play in fact, we were unsure if he was going to play or not, but he and the medical staff did a terrific job. 'He was confident he could get through but couldn't do goalkicking or a lot of the long kicking. 'He's more confident than what he was leading into Game 2. I think he'll be close to 100 per cent by Game 3.' Zac Lomax was 2/5 in his conversion attempts in Game 2 and the Blues could have wrapped up the series win had he been more accurate. Official Queensland team for State of Origin Game 3 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Xavier Coates 3. Robert Toia 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Valentine Holmes 6. Cameron Munster (c) 7. Tom Dearden 8. Josh Papalii 9. Harry Grant 10. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui 11. Reuben Cotter 12. Kurt Capewell 13. Trent Loiero 14. Kurt Mann 15. Lindsay Collins 16. Patrick Carrigan 17. Jeremiah Nanai 18. Reece Walsh 19: J'maine Hopgood
The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Daley welcomes anxiety in bid to break decider duck
Laurie Daley admits State of Origin series deciders give him welcome anxiety as he attempts to win his first in four attempts as NSW coach. After a bonding session at a surf school was washed out on Tuesday morning, NSW players headed west to their Leura camp in the Blue Mountains. All eyes will likely be on Brian To'o's knee at a rain-sodden Leura over coming days, with the winger fighting to be fit for next Wednesday's Origin III at Accor Stadium, with the series locked 1-1. But Daley knows as well as anyone that timing the preparation for an Origin decider is crucial ahead of the biggest game of the year for most of the players. Daley contested four deciders as a player, for two wins, one loss and a draw. As a coach, his record is less than ideal while on the receiving end of the great Queensland dynasty during his first stint as Blues mentor between 2013 and 2017. NSW couldn't make use of good attacking ball in the 2013 decider in Sydney, beaten 12-10 in game three of Daley's first series as coach. The Blues were blown away 52-6 by the Maroons in 2015 at Suncorp, before never really being in the contest in a 22-6 loss in the 2017 decider at the same ground. Daley says he learned from his previous experiences as coach, but the biggest lessons of all came from his playing days. "I put myself in the players' shoes," Daley said. "If I walk into day one of an Origin camp, I want to be excited, but I also don't want to be hit with that intensity of 'this is what we're about to go in'. "Because it's a big build up, you've got to be careful that you don't play the game before you get there. "You don't want to be sky high today or tomorrow – you want to gradually increase the build up and increase the intensity of everything you do. "I think it's about building the week, rather than going too hard too early." It's also why he has no concerns about feeling anxious ahead of next week. Daley is renowned as being a coach who cares deeply about his players and their results, having even contracted shingles from being run down after the 2013 series. NSW had their chances to wrap up this year's series in Perth to avoid a decider, but Daley saw enough during their second-half fightback to convince him to keep the same team for Sydney. "I'd be lying to you if I said I wasn't nervous, but it's more excitement than nerves," Daley said. "Probably anxious is the right word. You're just hoping that you've nailed your prep for the week which we're about to do. That's all we can control. "I think everyone is excited and has a little bit of anxiety. You had it as a player and you have it as a coach, and you get a bit nervous. "Anyone who tells you they don't is probably lying. "That's what we love about sport. What we love about this game is that you've got to have all those emotions because it means that it means something to you." Of NSW's current side, 12 played in last year's series-deciding win at Suncorp Stadium. Queensland have 10 players who have won deciders before, with recalled Josh Papali'i also part of the last Maroons side to do so in Sydney in 2013. Laurie Daley admits State of Origin series deciders give him welcome anxiety as he attempts to win his first in four attempts as NSW coach. After a bonding session at a surf school was washed out on Tuesday morning, NSW players headed west to their Leura camp in the Blue Mountains. All eyes will likely be on Brian To'o's knee at a rain-sodden Leura over coming days, with the winger fighting to be fit for next Wednesday's Origin III at Accor Stadium, with the series locked 1-1. But Daley knows as well as anyone that timing the preparation for an Origin decider is crucial ahead of the biggest game of the year for most of the players. Daley contested four deciders as a player, for two wins, one loss and a draw. As a coach, his record is less than ideal while on the receiving end of the great Queensland dynasty during his first stint as Blues mentor between 2013 and 2017. NSW couldn't make use of good attacking ball in the 2013 decider in Sydney, beaten 12-10 in game three of Daley's first series as coach. The Blues were blown away 52-6 by the Maroons in 2015 at Suncorp, before never really being in the contest in a 22-6 loss in the 2017 decider at the same ground. Daley says he learned from his previous experiences as coach, but the biggest lessons of all came from his playing days. "I put myself in the players' shoes," Daley said. "If I walk into day one of an Origin camp, I want to be excited, but I also don't want to be hit with that intensity of 'this is what we're about to go in'. "Because it's a big build up, you've got to be careful that you don't play the game before you get there. "You don't want to be sky high today or tomorrow – you want to gradually increase the build up and increase the intensity of everything you do. "I think it's about building the week, rather than going too hard too early." It's also why he has no concerns about feeling anxious ahead of next week. Daley is renowned as being a coach who cares deeply about his players and their results, having even contracted shingles from being run down after the 2013 series. NSW had their chances to wrap up this year's series in Perth to avoid a decider, but Daley saw enough during their second-half fightback to convince him to keep the same team for Sydney. "I'd be lying to you if I said I wasn't nervous, but it's more excitement than nerves," Daley said. "Probably anxious is the right word. You're just hoping that you've nailed your prep for the week which we're about to do. That's all we can control. "I think everyone is excited and has a little bit of anxiety. You had it as a player and you have it as a coach, and you get a bit nervous. "Anyone who tells you they don't is probably lying. "That's what we love about sport. What we love about this game is that you've got to have all those emotions because it means that it means something to you." Of NSW's current side, 12 played in last year's series-deciding win at Suncorp Stadium. Queensland have 10 players who have won deciders before, with recalled Josh Papali'i also part of the last Maroons side to do so in Sydney in 2013. Laurie Daley admits State of Origin series deciders give him welcome anxiety as he attempts to win his first in four attempts as NSW coach. After a bonding session at a surf school was washed out on Tuesday morning, NSW players headed west to their Leura camp in the Blue Mountains. All eyes will likely be on Brian To'o's knee at a rain-sodden Leura over coming days, with the winger fighting to be fit for next Wednesday's Origin III at Accor Stadium, with the series locked 1-1. But Daley knows as well as anyone that timing the preparation for an Origin decider is crucial ahead of the biggest game of the year for most of the players. Daley contested four deciders as a player, for two wins, one loss and a draw. As a coach, his record is less than ideal while on the receiving end of the great Queensland dynasty during his first stint as Blues mentor between 2013 and 2017. NSW couldn't make use of good attacking ball in the 2013 decider in Sydney, beaten 12-10 in game three of Daley's first series as coach. The Blues were blown away 52-6 by the Maroons in 2015 at Suncorp, before never really being in the contest in a 22-6 loss in the 2017 decider at the same ground. Daley says he learned from his previous experiences as coach, but the biggest lessons of all came from his playing days. "I put myself in the players' shoes," Daley said. "If I walk into day one of an Origin camp, I want to be excited, but I also don't want to be hit with that intensity of 'this is what we're about to go in'. "Because it's a big build up, you've got to be careful that you don't play the game before you get there. "You don't want to be sky high today or tomorrow – you want to gradually increase the build up and increase the intensity of everything you do. "I think it's about building the week, rather than going too hard too early." It's also why he has no concerns about feeling anxious ahead of next week. Daley is renowned as being a coach who cares deeply about his players and their results, having even contracted shingles from being run down after the 2013 series. NSW had their chances to wrap up this year's series in Perth to avoid a decider, but Daley saw enough during their second-half fightback to convince him to keep the same team for Sydney. "I'd be lying to you if I said I wasn't nervous, but it's more excitement than nerves," Daley said. "Probably anxious is the right word. You're just hoping that you've nailed your prep for the week which we're about to do. That's all we can control. "I think everyone is excited and has a little bit of anxiety. You had it as a player and you have it as a coach, and you get a bit nervous. "Anyone who tells you they don't is probably lying. "That's what we love about sport. What we love about this game is that you've got to have all those emotions because it means that it means something to you." Of NSW's current side, 12 played in last year's series-deciding win at Suncorp Stadium. Queensland have 10 players who have won deciders before, with recalled Josh Papali'i also part of the last Maroons side to do so in Sydney in 2013.
