Billy Slater breaks silence on ugly claims after real reason for Reece Walsh’s axing revealed

Queensland coach Billy Slater has rejected suggestions there’s ‘something else’ behind Reece Walsh’s snub for State of Origin 1, insisted his relationship with the Broncos fullback is good. Walsh was a shock omission from the Maroons’ team for Origin 1, and wasn’t even included in the 20-man squad.

Former NRL stars James Graham and Luke Keary have both suggested there must be something more to Walsh’s axing than simply his form. But speaking to Triple M radio on Sunday, Slater shot down the theory.

“I’m not surprised by any narrative that gets thrown around in this game,” Slater said. “I get that everyone has an opinion and what they want to say, but I’ve got a great relationship with Reece.

“We’ve been connected for about five years. Ever since he’s been in the NRL to be honest. I’ve got a lot of time for him and I’m sure he’ll earn his opportunity to play in this jersey in the future.”

Darren Lockyer reveals reason for Reece Walsh snub

Last week, Queensland selectors Darren Lockyer and Gene Miles both revealed that Walsh’s omission was down to confidence issues. The 23-year-old hasn’t been at his best since returning from a facial fracture, and the Maroons want to see him back to his confident self before picking him for Origin.

“Going into a big Origin game with confidence, it plays a huge factor,” Lockyer told The Courier Mail. “Reece is coming back from a month off. The Broncos are struggling a bit for form and we just felt that Kalyn is playing in a winning team at the moment. He is a big contributor to that and he is just in almost career-best form.

“We know what Reece is capable of. The key now for Reece is how he responds to the disappointment and focuses on getting back to playing his best footy.”

Slater reportedly phoned Walsh in the lead-up to Magic Round and asked him how he was feeling. According to reports, Walsh admitted he wasn’t playing at 100 per cent and feeling fully confident in himself.

“I don’t know why else you’d leave him out and I don’t think Billy would leave him out if he was alright,” former NRL player James Maloney said last week. “But if he’s said I’m not quite right then [Slater] went ‘OK I’ll leave you (out of the team)’.”

No choice: Why NRL had to ensure Origin refereeing is no different to club games

The NRL have claimed the opening game of the 2026 State of Origin series will be refereed the same as the regular season.

That shouldn’t come as a surprise to fans, but that’s certainly the reaction it has drawn across the rugby league landscape.

There may not be the statistics to back it up, but most will tell you there is a difference between club games and Origin games in the way they are officiated most years.

Just a little bit more is let go, the whistle stays in the pocket for longer, and the dreaded six-again bell probably won’t be played quite as much.

Graham Annesley had no time for such a suggestion, though, telling The Sydney Morning Herald that the narrative was “completely false”.

“Any suggestion that referees are given different instructions for Origin is completely false; they simply respond to what unfolds in front of them,” Annesley told the publication.

Origin features some of the best players from across the competition on the field at the same time. They are not only the best players, but generally, they are also those who play with the most discipline.

“That’s what makes them so good, they are not constantly making errors or conceding penalties. When you put those factors together, it requires less intervention from referees.

“Referees only need to intervene when teams aren’t complying with the rules or where there are a lot of errors being made, whether it be knock-ons, forward passes, or any other form of ill-discipline that requires more whistleblowing.”

This year has seen officiating – and more than that, the rules – under the microscope more than any other.

Changes in the pre-season, which now see six-agains blown for any ruck or offside infringement outside of a defensive 20-metre zone, mean the bell has been going off more than ever.