Billy Slater urged to make Reece Walsh call after Broncos fullback stars in comeback win

Queensland coach Billy Slater has been urged to make a tough Reece Walsh call ahead of the State of Origin decider.

Reece Walsh has put Maroons coach Billy Slater on notice after a scintillating performance on Sunday, leading the Broncos to a stunning 34-28 comeback win over Cronulla.

The 22-year-old, renowned for his flashy style, produced some moments of magic as well as some grit and toughness as the Broncos turned around a 28-12 deficit to get their season back on track.

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Walsh finished with two try assists, three linebreak assists, a linebreak, five tackle busts and 178m in a performance sure to have got Slater’s attention.

“He’s a competitor, and I guess we all expect Reecey to come up with those things, just with what he’s able to do,” Michael Maguire said after the Broncos’ win on Sunday.

“He just keeps competing.”

And with Slater looking forward to Game 3, many have suggested he may axe struggling fullback Kalyn Ponga and either look to Walsh or switch Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to fullback.

In Game 1, the Knights superstar had 21 runs for 163 metres, and it was even more dire in Game 2 as he registered just eight runs for 77 metres, as well as missing four tackles and making two errors.

His Game 2 horror show led former Broncos and Warriors player Denan Kemp to suggest Slater should drop him for the Origin decider.

“He dropped three bombs. He got bounced off by Cleary and got lucky there was an obstruction,” Kemp said on the Bloke in a Bar podcast on Thursday

“I think Billy has to have a real hard look at that fullback position. I think KP (Ponga) is just out of form.

Billy Slater has been urged to pick Reece Walsh for the State of Origin decider. Image: Getty

“It’s tough but if you’ve got that many errors, it’s just a real question we (Queensland) have to ask ourselves. We need someone who’s bringing energy around the ruck, making their catches and tackles. It’s definitely a question that I think Billy should be considering because we can’t afford to go into Game 3 and have that many dropped balls. We’ll lose by 30-plus.”

And after Sunday’s incredible performance, Slater appears to have been handed the perfect solution to his problem in the form of Walsh.

The fullback has played five Origin games and if not being out with a knee injury early in the season, many believe he would have been Slater’s preferred No.1.

Walsh’s knee is still far from right with the fullback seen limping on several occasions during the win. However, the 22-year-old says it is getting better each week.

“It’s good, I was trying to hide it (laughs),” Walsh said of his knee.

“It’s a work in progress. I am still trying to get used to the feel of it.”

Kalyn Ponga has struggled to make much of an impact in the 2025 Origin series. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

And after an incredible showing on Sunday fans have called for Slater to pick him at fullback for the State of Origin decider, declaring even a one-legged Walsh is their best chance at reclaiming the Origin shield.

“I know he’s not 100% but there’s a case for Reece Walsh playing FB for QLD, moving Ponga to 14?” one fan wrote.

“Surely Reece Walsh has to be picked for Origin III. A one-legged Walsh is better than Ponga,” another said.

“Queensland can’t go without Reece Walsh in SOO III when he’s in this sort of form. It’s irresistible. Just got to decide whether Kalyn Ponga can be afforded on the bench alongside Kurt Mann and two other forwards,” a third added.

While a fourth said: “Walsh is back!”.

NSW will have a home-ground advantage for the series decider, which will take place at Sydney’s Accor Stadium on Wednesday, July 9.

Originally published as Billy Slater urged to make Reece Walsh call after Broncos fullback stars in comeback win