Smith’s huge DCE, Walsh calls as icon names Maroons team

Queensland legend Cameron Smith has thrown his help behind Sam Walker to fill the vacant halfback position for the State of Origin collection opener.

The state’s all-time most capped participant believes it is time to pull the set off on the gifted Sydney Roosters playmaker after a powerful begin to the season.

Walker is among the front-runners to exchange the injured Tom Dearden within the aspect, together with his membership teammate Daly Cherry-Evans additionally firmly within the combine.

READ MORE: ‘Not a charity’: Gus, Bracey sq. off over Bears plan

READ MORE: Bailey denies issues as Aussie stars refuse to signal contracts

READ MORE: Slater coy on choices amid claims of mass modifications

However based on Smith, selectors ought to solid an eye fixed in direction of the longer term and blood Walker as against bringing Cherry-Evans again after he was axed final 12 months.

Coach Billy Slater made the seismic name to axe Cherry-Evans after a sport one loss, regardless of the veteran being his Origin captain and halfback.

It proved a masterstroke, with Queensland occurring to win the collection 2-1.

“I believe there was a extremely troublesome resolution made final 12 months to go away DCE out,” Smith mentioned on 9’s 100% Footy on Monday evening.

“With that call being made, I believe they want to take a look at somebody transferring ahead and I believe Sam Walker’s in fairly good contact in the meanwhile.”

Maybe probably the most stunning choice name from Smith, nonetheless, was leaving Reece Walsh out of his 19-man team fully, favouring Kalyn Ponga at fullback.

“The contentious positions had been halfback and fullback and I’ve gone for KP,” he mentioned.

“The shape that KP’s proven previously fortnight since getting back from that hamstring damage, I believe he is gotta be there.”

Ponga has performed off the bench at Origin stage earlier than and lots of consider each he and Walsh will probably be included when Slater names his aspect subsequent Monday for sport one.

Watch the 2026 NRL season stay and free on 9 and 9Now.

Former NSW coach Phil Gould was surprised by Smith’s resolution to omit the Broncos speedster, simply months faraway from a grand closing and Ashes tour.

“When the grand closing was over final 12 months, I could not think about a time the place anybody would say Reece Walsh would not be the fullback,” he mentioned.

“He produced single-handedly the best particular person efficiency I’ve ever seen in a grand closing final 12 months and you understand he is received that big-match presence.

“The opposite bloke [Ponga] is a celebrity too. They have a humiliation of riches.”

Smith has opted to stay stable with a big contingent of gamers who featured within the profitable 2025 marketing campaign, with the one potential debutants being back-rowers Briton Nikora and Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, as effectively as Dolphins utility Max Plath.

The previous captain had no room for Gehamat Shibasaki within the centres after he performed in final 12 months’s decider, whereas Tom Flegler is again after a prolonged damage layoff.

Cameron Smith’s Queensland Maroons team

1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Selwyn Cobbo 3. Robert Toia 4. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Cameron Munster 7. Sam Walker 8. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 9. Harry Grant 10. Patrick Carrigan 11. Reuben Cotter 12. Kurt Capewell 13. Trent Loiero 14. Kurt Mann 15. Lindsay Collins 16. Tom Flegler 17. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 18. Briton Nikora 19. Max Plath