Three axed as Slater makes staggering call to bring Origin hero out of retirement

Yahoo

a day ago

Billy Slater has sensationally axed three players from his Queensland squad for State of Origin 3, naming Reece Walsh as 18th man and bringing Josh Papalii out of rep retirement. Mo Fotuaika, Corey Horsburgh and Ezra Mam have all been dumped from the 20-player squad that Slater named for Game 2, with Fotuaika axed from the playing 17.
Slater has made the staggering call to bring Canberra veteran Papalii out of rep retirement, after he called it quits on his Origin career back in 2023. Papalii will start in the front-row in place of the axed Fotuaika, who's been underwhelming in the series so far.
Papalii's selection is another snub for Raiders teammate Horbsurgh, who many believe should have been picked in the first two games. But he's not even in the 20-player squad for the series decider, with Slater naming Walsh, Josh Kerr and J'maine Hopgood as his reserves.
RELATED:
Isaiyah Katoa handed State of Origin honour as NSW name squad
Jeff Fenech speaks out amid daughter's big news with NRL star
Walsh has missed out on the starting fullback role, with Slater switching Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to No.1 to replace the injured Kalyn Ponga. Broncos centre Gehamat Shibasaki will make his Origin debut in a shuffled backline.
Walsh being named at 18th man means there's no spot for Broncos teammate and good friend Mam, who filled the role in Game 2. It's a curious selection from Slater considering Walsh still looks hampered by a knee injury, and Mam arguably covers more positions in the all-important 18th man role.
But the selection of Papalii is the biggest bombshell, considering the 33-year-old hasn't played Origin footy since 2022. The veteran prop has been in sensational form for Canberra over the last few weeks, but Raiders teammate Horsburgh will no doubt be questioning what more he needs to do.
Speaking last week on SEN radio, Matty Johns said it would be a 'masterstroke' if Slater picks Papalii to beef up his forward pack. "I think it would be a fantastic move for Queensland," Johns said. "To come down to Sydney for a decider and to bring someone with the presence of 'Big Papa' and his leadership, I think it would be a masterstroke."
Injured Maroons veteran Ben Hunt said on 4BC radio: 'I would love to see big Paps out there. There was never a time when he pulled on the jumper that he let Queensland down and he is playing great footy at the moment. He is the ultimate warrior. He would bring some real aggression up front if we brought him back in.'
Queensland legend Corey Parker has no doubt Papalii will aim up for Slater. "I pencilled him in my team for Origin 2 but then I thought, well, he's retired, so they won't pick him,' Parker said on SEN.
'Absolutely he can do a job. He's probably playing as good a footy now as he ever has. He just seems comfortable. He'd be fine playing Origin. He plays week in, week out at NRL level and I understand Origin is quicker, but he's only looking to do 25 minutes at most.
'He'd bring a bit of intimidation. There's no bulls*** with Papa and he would get stuck into the Blues. I've played against him and it's never fun playing against Papa."
Quietly rate this team, except Loiero should be Carrigan and Carrigan should be Horsburgh
— Pikey (@pikey14) June 29, 2025
Papa won't allow his section to jeopardise the Raiders season surely?How many metres, tackles and offloads does Horsburgh need to make to be considered?
— Joe Tapine Offload (@RJCorrigan) June 29, 2025
I'd assumed Papalii had retired from Origin but also it's kinda funny the lengths Billy will go to to not pick Horsburgh
— Ben Quagliata (@bensquag) June 29, 2025
What a great couple of stories Gehamat Shibasaki and Josh Papalii are for QLD.Shibasaki went from a Train and Trial deal to one of the Broncos best this yr.Papalii's had a great year and previously retired from rep footy.Now both are in an #Origin decider, well done lads👏 https://t.co/vpObE877lq
— Andrew Lucas (@LucasLowdown9) June 29, 2025
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
Xavier Coates
Robert Toia
Gehamat Shibasaki
Valentine Holmes
Cameron Munster
Tom Dearden
Josh Papalii
Harry Grant
Tino Fa'asuamaleaui
Reuben Cotter
Kurt Capewell
Trent Loiero
Kurt Mann
Lindsay Collins
Jeremiah Nanai
Pat Carrigan
18. Reece Walsh 19. J'maine Hopgood 20. Josh Kerr