EXCLUSIVE: 'Very surprised' Joey says Reece Walsh snub will cost Maroons in two key areas

Andrew Johns admits he was stunned by Billy Slater's decision to favour Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow over Reece Walsh for Queensland's fullback role ahead of Origin III.

A foot injury to Kalyn Ponga forced Slater to shuffle his Maroons backline for the State of Origin decider, with Tabuai-Fidow moving to fullback and Gehamat Shibasaki making a surprise debut at centre.

Walsh's snub from the role he held just last year means he likely won't feature in Origin at all in 2025. He is 18th man for game three and so may come on the field in the event of concussions to other players.

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Slater defended his choice to overlook the star fullback at the time of selection, declaring he believes Tabuai-Fidow is "the right fit for the footy team right now."

But Blues icon Johns believes Walsh was the better option for the series decider.

"I was very surprised," Johns said on Nine's Freddy and the Eighth.

"I thought they would go Reece Walsh without a doubt.

"I was surprised because the Hammer is one of those players who needs someone to create for him and then he is there (as a) support player. Whereas Reece can play like a halfback."

Former NSW coach Phil Gould made the same point, although believes that is the exact reason Slater opted to go with Tabuai-Fidow over Walsh, so there weren't too many cooks in the kitchen.

Just days before Origin selection Tabuai-Fidow made a strong case to step in as fullback as he recorded four tries in a stellar 50-28 win for the Dolphins against the Rabbitohs.

Johns admitted he was unsure if the performance had any influence over Slater's choice.

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However, the eighth Immortal says Tabuai-Fidow may not be able to return the ball off the kick in the same "dangerous" manner as his Broncos counterpart Walsh.

"I don't think (Tabuai-Fidow) brings the ball back as fast and as dangerous as Reece Walsh," he said.

"Origin football is kick reception footy. If you have a look at (NSW's) kick reception, you've got Dylan Edwards, Brian To'o who is probably the best dummy half runner, outside back we've seen, and Zac Lomax.

"On (Queensland's side) they will have the Hammer bringing the ball back and Xavier Coates, who is a phenomenal athlete but doesn't bend the line, and the other one is Valentine Holmes.

"I think the back three for NSW have a better advantage on that kick reception, coming out of trouble.

"I think with the Broncos over the last couple of weeks (Walsh) has gone over on that left side and passed to Gehamat," Johns continued.

"He unlocks a lot of players and (he'd) take pressure off Cam Munster and Tommy Dearden, so I was really surprised he is not there."

Brad Fittler, former coach of the NSW Blues, suggested Slater's choice may be "relying" on Tabuai-Fidow finding creative opportunities to pounce.

"He turns the smallest opportunities into tries so maybe Billy is relying on that," Fittler said.

""Hopefully, the Hammer comes up with a great support because once he gets through the line there is just no stopping him.

"But if I was only giving 10 penalties away and you're dropping the ball... Reece Walsh becomes a nightmare. If you are completing at 90 per cent, you might take him out of play with your kicking game.

"Whether Billy is thinking like that then New South Wales will be better."