Laurie Daley sticks with his true Blues as NSW begin another injury dance

Queensland coach Billy Slater has sprung two more Origin selection shocks, recalling Josh Papalii out of representative retirement and handing a surprise Maroons debut to journeyman Gehamat Shibasaki for Wednesday’s series decider.

As NSW coach Laurie Daley goes for an unchanged 17 and the Blues prepare for another delicate injury dance, Slater will opted against rushing Broncos superstar Reece Walsh back into the Queensland No.1 jersey.

Dolphins speedster Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow is instead expected to move to fullback to replace the injured Kalyn Ponga, with Shibasaki lining up in the centres. Walsh is set to be included on an extended bench.

Shibasaki’s selection after 45 NRL games at four clubs across seven seasons will rank among the biggest Origin gambles in history. The 26-year-old’s Origin nod comes after a breakout season at the Broncos which began with a $1200-per-week train-and-trial deal last November.

A rambling career has taken Shibasaki from a 2018 debut with Brisbane to Newcastle, Japanese rugby, North Queensland and South Sydney before Michael Maguire threw him a lifeline that now lands him an Origin debut with the series on the line.

The shock of his rise is only matched by news of Papalii coming out of retirement to shore up Queensland’s pack.

The Maroons will name their side for the decider on Monday morning, but sources have indicated a shock recall for 33-year-old Papalii is in store, two years after the last of his 23 appearances for Queensland.

Papalii has wound back the clock this year in what is his last season for ladder-leaders Canberra, and is now eyeing an Origin swansong as well at Accor Stadium.

Gehamat Shibasaki celebrates a try for Brisbane.Credit: Getty Images

In contrast to Slater’s recalling of Papalii and game-two axing of captain Daly Cherry-Evans in two huge selection calls, Daley has stuck with the same side unless his hand has been forced.

NSW had several stars cleared for selection on Sunday, with Blues flyer Brian To’o, five-eighth Jarome Luai, back-rower Hudson Young and prop Payne Haas all given the green light to head into NSW camp, while Nathan Cleary’s recovery from an ongoing groin complaint continues.

The Blues halfback has given up goalkicking duties since straining his adductor leading into Origin II and it’s expected winger Zac Lomax will take the tee again.

Cleary and To’o are expected to be on managed training programs throughout the Blues’ game three camp after scans cleared the Panthers winger of any serious damage to his knee in last Thursday’s nail-biting win over Canterbury.

Blues staff are comfortable with To’o’s fitness and any need to manage his training loads before the July 9 clash given he barely trained ahead of game two due to a hamstring issue, but scored a hat-trick and ran for 229 metres.

Bulldogs flyer Jacob Kiraz has been named as 18th man as cover for To’o.

Haas pulled out an equally impressive Origin I man-of-the-match performance with only half a training session under his belt after tearing his quad 10 days out from game-day.

The Broncos prop has managed a back injury for much of 2025 and along with Cleary, gave NSW an unwanted headache in Perth when he twinged his groin leading into Queensland’s upset victory.

Haas is good to go for Origin III though, as are Luai (infection) and Raiders star Young, who required a cortisone injection last week to manage an ongoing groin issue.

Young was rested by the Raiders for their recent win over Newcastle but was not considered in doubt, while Luai is still recovering from an infected boil on his chest that sent him to hospital briefly last week.

Jarome Luai will be right to go into NSW camp.Credit: Getty Images

NSW are prepared to give the Tigers captain the first few days of camp off given his long-standing partnership with Cleary from their premiership-winning tenure at Penrith.

Daley has resisted the impressive form of Rabbitohs forward Keaon Koloamatangi and backed props Max King and Stefano Utoikamanu to match Queensland’s improved efforts up front.

Penrith’s Lindsay Smith returns to Blues camp as 19th man while Newcastle centre Bradman Best has also been added to the squad as cover out wide.

As Slater continues to shake up Queensland each time he names an Origin side, the only changes to the Blues squads this series came about through injuries to prop Mitch Barnett (after Origin I) and half Mitchell Moses (leading into Origin II).

NSW Blues coach Laurie Daley has gone with an unchanged side for Origin III.Credit: Getty Images

Daley coached the last NSW squad to go through an entire series with an unchanged 17 in 2017, and played at centre in 1996 – when the Blues named the same side three games running for a 3-0 clean sweep.

Barring any call-up for Kiraz or Smith, this campaign will feature just one NSW debutant in King – the fewest Blues blooded across a full series since Origin’s inception in 1980.

Rising Dolphins star Isaiya Katoa has been called up as a wider squad member later in the week given his side has a bye this weekend and the 21-year-old is widely regarded as an Origin player of the future.

Cronulla’s Teig Wilton, the Gold Coast’s Brian Kelly and Parramatta’s Jack Williams will be given similar nods once NSW head to their Blue Mountains base on Tuesday.

Canterbury’s Matt Burton is expected to remain first-choice back-up half to Cleary and Luai should either be unavailable.

But given his extensive time as 18th man and the fact Origin III is being played in Sydney, he will be released to play in the Bulldogs’ Friday night clash with Brisbane.

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