The Agenda Setters Rugby League on Channel 7 Luke Keary on Reece Walsh being left out of Slater’s Origin squad – available on 7plus.
“No way is it form only” Luke Keary on why Reece Walsh was left out of Slater’s Origin squad
CP: Big news from Billy Slater leaving Reece Walsh, arguably the best player in the competition, definitely at the back end of last season. Lit up over there for the Kangaroos in the Ashes. Kez, talking behind off stage there before, you were very vocal in and around this.
LK: it was Saturday night, about Hammer being the fullback, Ponga being seven. That was the whole chat Sunday morning.
DR: Let me address that. I’ve got absolutely no doubt it was real and it was 24 – 48 hours prior to this team being named today, they were leaning towards Ponga in the halves and Hammer at fullback. What changed is, there was still 24 hours to go and it allowed Billy Slater time to probably reassess or assess things and go with the path that he’s gone.
LK: Well, it doesn’t matter because that slate was Hammer at fullback and it still didn’t have Walsh in the team. Now, last week, Cam Smith, Queensland legend, very close friend of Billy Slater’s, named his Queensland team and it didn’t have Reece Walsh in it. Cam Smith works at the Brisbane Broncos as a leadership consultant with them, so he’s obviously close with Reece and the other Broncos.
For him to not have him in that team, it was very, very bizarre to me. Very bizarre. And, in saying that, Billy just said it. He played in a series in 2023, and he was one of the most influential Queensland players. There’s something, there’s something not.. Something doesn’t add up.
AW: You don’t believe it’s form only? No way.
LK: No way is it form only. What do you think it is? I don’t know. They don’t have to explain it. I just find it very hard to believe that the Clive Churchill man is best player in the Ashes series. Unbelievable. He’s probably the best player behind Nathan when he’s on, and he hasn’t been off this year.
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The Agenda Setters Rugby League on Channel 7 Luke Keary on Reece Walsh being left out of Slater’s Origin squad
