EXCLUSIVE: Phil Gould explains why 'over-enthusiastic' Reece Walsh was snubbed from Maroons team

Phil Gould believes the "over-enthusiastic" style of Reece Walsh's game and the fullback's unquenchable urge to "prove he's an Origin player" cost him at the selection table.

The most successful NSW coach in Origin history also thinks Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, the man picked to play at fullback for Queensland in the series decider next Wednesday night, will mix well with the Maroons' playmakers and may even "be the difference".

Queensland coach Billy Slater was left with a decision to make when Kalyn Ponga suffered a foot injury: shift Tabuai-Fidow from the right wing to fullback and find someone to replace him in the outside backs, or recall Walsh.

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Slater opted for the former, and made one of the most stunning selection calls in Origin history by calling up rugby league journeyman Gehamat Shibasaki for his Maroons debut.

"I think the Hamiso selection at fullback is inspired," Gould said on Wide World of Sports' Six Tackles with Gus podcast.

"I watched the last couple of Dolphins games, and he is frightening at the back ... and that's the thing that always scares me now."

Tabuai-Fidow is "completely different" to Walsh, Gould added.

"And I can see what Billy's thinking here," said Canterbury's general manager of football.

"He's thinking his playmakers are up front. [Cameron] Munster and Harry Grant have shown that if they can get possession, and [Tom] Dearden, he's an attacking sort of halfback, what I don't need is an over-enthusiastic fullback chancing his arm, trying to prove he's an Origin player at the back there, where Reece Walsh is at this stage of his career.

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"What I need is someone at the back there who can take advantage of what happens up front.

"So if [Josh] Papali'i gives us a little bit of go-forward and the forwards can do their job, and then Munster and Grant and Dearden can get enough possession and take them on, we just need them to pop a pass and make a half break and Hammer's gonna take it all the way.

"Whereas if he [Slater] brings Reece Walsh in, who likes to get the ball out the back and fly around the sides and grubber a kick and throw long passes and step ... Reece Walsh feels compelled to be a playmaker and he feels compelled to create.

"Hamiso is not gonna create anything; Hamiso is gonna take advantage of the creation."

Tabuai-Fidow played at right centre in the series opener and on the right wing in game two.

But the Cairns product is primarily a fullback and he's been in devastating form in the No.1 jumper for the Dolphins, bagging eight tries from his last four games to shoot to the top of the NRL try-scoring leaderboard.

He crossed for four tries in Saturday's 50-28 win against South Sydney to move to 15 for the season.

Tabuai-Fidow is set for his first Origin match as a fullback.

Walsh was Queensland's fullback for the 2023 series, won by the Maroons 2-1, and again for last year's series, won by the Blues 2-1, but suffered a knee injury during the lead-up to this year's Origin campaign.

The Broncos fullback has played three games since returning but was clearly still hindered by that injury in those matches.

"I can really see what Billy was thinking there and I applaud him for it because that's all he needs; he needs someone who can ice the big moments and the chances that are going to be created by Harry Grant and Munster. That's their strength," Gould said.

"So I don't need Reece Walsh speculating and coming up with errors or feeling as though he's the major playmaker of the team. There'll be a time and place for that at another time.

"If Grant and Munster can get enough possession, they can create enough chances for us for Hamiso to be the difference and take it all the way.

"I think that's an inspired choice."