QLD Maroons 2025

[Big Pete]

Josh Papalii set to come out of retirement and play his 24th and final Origin game.

That will put him alongside Justin Hodges, Gary Larson and Matt Sing in terms of appearances.

Papalii is already a Maroons great, but a win would certainly add to his legacy.

 

[Big Pete]

The Courier Mail is reporting that Tabuai-Fidow will be the fullback, with Valentine Holmes moving to the wing and Gehamat Shibasaki earning a shock debut in the centres.

Reece Walsh will be 18th man in a move that will upset Broncos fans.

 

[MKCS]

Couple of odd decisions from Queensland:

- Not sure why they wouldn't pick Reece Walsh in ANY capacity. He's got great x-factor, has done the job at fullback for Queensland before and his speed and playmaking ability would trouble NSW. I'd be more scared of Reece Walsh than Shibasaki especially with 20 minutes to go and scores tied, even at 14 he'd be worth selecting.

- Fidow is a great player as well and won't let QLD down at fullback but he's a great choice at centre, if he's picked at fullback he'd have played centre, wing and fullback this series, leave him at centre where he can dominate.

- With Papalii I'm not so sure he's the answer either, 33 years old as the starting prop forward? Corey Horsburgh has been better this year so hopefully he isn't missing out for Papalii. Papalii could maybe be a decent bench option for his leadership and experience.


---

If it were me selecting:

1. Walsh 2. Coates 3. Tabuai-Fidow 4. Toia 5. Holmes

6. Munster (C) 7. Dearden

8. Horsburgh 9. Grant 10. Tino 11. Cotter 12. Capewell 13. Carrigan

14. Mann 15. Collins 16. Papalii 17. Nanai

18. Ezra

 

[mongoose]

Papali definitely isn't a desperate selection, he's been incredible the past 5-6 weeks. I don't think Slater could ignore him. Would like to see Hors there too though.

Shibasaki and Toia as centres could be very risky for the maroons. Hammer does a lot of things well but he's not a great all-round fullback imo. Walsh should be 1.

 

[Bobby DIGital]

Shibasaki lol. May as well throw Origin veteran Corey Allan back in too.

 

[Big Pete]

Game III Official Team

1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins)
2. Xavier Coates (Melbourne Storm)
3. Robert Toia (Sydney Roosters)
4. Gehamat Shibasaki (Brisbane Broncos)
5. Valentine Holmes (St George Illawarra Dragons)
6. Cameron Munster (c) (Melbourne Storm)
7. Tom Dearden (North Queensland Cowboys)
8. Josh Papalii (Canberra Raiders)
9. Harry Grant (Melbourne Storm)
10. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui (Gold Coast Titans)
11. Reuben Cotter (North Queensland Cowboys)
12. Kurt Capewell (Warriors)
13. Trent Loiero (Melbourne Storm)

14. Kurt Mann (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)
15. Lindsay Collins (Sydney Roosters)
16. Jeremiah Nanai (North Queensland Cowboys)
17. Patrick Carrigan (Brisbane Broncos)

18. Reece Walsh (Brisbane Broncos)

19. Josh Kerr (Dolphins) 20. J'maine Hopgood (Parramatta Eels)

 

[Canard]

Game III Official Team

1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins)
2. Xavier Coates (Melbourne Storm)
3. Robert Toia (Sydney Roosters)
4. Gehamat Shibasaki (Brisbane Broncos)
5. Valentine Holmes (St George Illawarra Dragons)
6. Cameron Munster (c) (Melbourne Storm)
7. Tom Dearden (North Queensland Cowboys)
8. Josh Papalii (Canberra Raiders)
9. Harry Grant (Melbourne Storm)
10. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui (Gold Coast Titans)
11. Reuben Cotter (North Queensland Cowboys)
12. Kurt Capewell (Warriors)
13. Trent Loiero (Melbourne Storm)

14. Kurt Mann (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)
15. Lindsay Collins (Sydney Roosters)
16. Jeremiah Nanai (North Queensland Cowboys)
17. Patrick Carrigan (Brisbane Broncos)

18. Reece Walsh (Brisbane Broncos)

19. Josh Kerr (Dolphins) 20. J'maine Hopgood (Parramatta Eels)

Reece will have to miss the Broncos game this weekend (as 18th man)? Right?

 

[Big Pete]

Slater has made one of the biggest calls of his coaching career, opting for the electric speed of Tabuai-Fidow over the exuberance of Reece Walsh. In Game II, the Maroons played a direct style of football, choosing to go through the Blues with short passes instead of around them. It appears Billy still sees value in this arrangement and will be challenging the middle third of NSW.

It would have been interesting if Walsh went into Origin III completely fit. While Reece has played a major hand in his club's three straight victories, he has been hampered with his right knee and it has affected his performance at times. Still, if the Hammer plays well here, it could have major ramifications on Walsh's representative career moving forward.

Shibasaki has capped his meteoric return with a well deserved Maroons cap. Shibasaki has been one of the Broncos best players this season and did everything to put himself in the frame. If Billy was to play it safe, the more logical selection would have been to retain Val in the centres with Taulagi coming in, but Murray has been struggling with his fitness. Savage was the other name mentioned and it would have been interesting to hear how close Xavier was to playing Origin.

Papalii is currently in Canberra to stay with his wife and his new born son, but will rejoin the camp shortly. Billy will hope that Josh leads from the front and sets an early tempo.

 

[Big Pete]

Reece will have to miss the Broncos game this weekend (as 18th man)? Right?

Sure will.

It's just something they'll have to suck up. Other clubs have had to deal with it and have even won in spite of the headache.

Still, with the way the game is going with concussion protocols, I believe the NRL ought to extend the bench regardless. I think it's only a matter of time before it's 18 vs. 18, or even 19 vs. 19.

 

[Canard]

Sure will.

It's just something they'll have to suck up. Other clubs have had to deal with it and have even won in spite of the headache.

Still, with the way the game is going with concussion protocols, I believe the NRL ought to extend the bench regardless. I think it's only a matter of time before it's 18 vs. 18, or even 19 vs. 19.

I think having one substitute is the way to go, and the coach can activate at any time, noting the substituted player cant return.