Papalii gets Origin comeback for ages, Hammer new No.1
Jasper Bruce, Joel Gould and Murray Wenzel |
Canberra veteran Josh Papalii has been ushered out of State of Origin retirement to give Queensland’s forward pack fire and brimstone in the State of Origin decider.
Papalii called time on his Origin career ahead of the 2023 series but will be named at starting prop when Billy Slater unveils his 17 for Origin III on Monday.
The 33-year-old prop has been instrumental in the first-placed Raiders’ charge up the ladder this year and will add extra vigour to Queensland’s pack come July 9 in Sydney.
Gold Coast prop Moeaki Fotuaika has been axed from a forward group who have struggled to match it with NSW in this series.
The selection shock comes as the Maroons recall Brisbane star Reece Walsh as 18th man and put faith in Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow as Kalyn Ponga’s injury replacement at fullback.
The biggest surprise in the Maroons side is the elevation of Broncos journeyman Shibasaki to partner Robert Toia in the centres after a season where the 27-year-old has scored 12 tries in 15 appearances to ressurect his career.
Tabuai-Fidow has played in the Queensland backline for the previous two games of the series and has helped the Dolphins rise into finals calculations following a poor start.
His four tries in the 50-28 win over South Sydney at No.1 in round 17 sealed the deal.
He has never started at fullback in nine Origin games but shifted there minutes into the 2024 series opener when Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii’s high tackle sidelined Walsh.
Tabuai-Fidow, who scored three tries that day, has indicated he is eager for another chance at fullback in Origin.
“To have that No.1 on my back would be super special for me,” Tabuai-Fidow said after the Dolphins’ win over the Rabbitohs in his 100th NRL game.
Walsh has been instrumental in reigniting Brisbane’s season, with the Broncos winning all three games since he returned from the knee injury that scuppered his Origin chances earlier in the series.
On Sunday morning, Maroons coach Billy Slater indicated he held no concerns over any lingering issues from the injury, pointing to Saturday’s win over the Warriors.
“I thought he moved quite well yesterday. The thing with Reece is he’s dangerous with the footy in hand,” Slater said on Channel Nine’s Sunday Footy Show.
“But he’s also dangerous by bringing others into the game.”
Walsh can also slot into the halves if need be and is the ideal 18th man.
Maroons back Valentine Holmes downplayed a minor leg injury that prevented him from kicking goals towards the end of St George Illawarra’s win over Parramatta.
He will be named on the wing as planned.
“It was just a little contusion on my knee, nothing bad, I obviously could still run,” said Holmes, who rescinded goal-kicking duties on Saturday night.
“I was just half looking after myself, making sure I’m not doing anything unnecessary.”
AAP
