‘Disrespectful’: Slater set to dump Queensland cult hero

Queensland coach Billy Slater is facing the tough call of leaving Dane Gagai out of his team this year with a backline shuffle looming.

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Queensland selectors are set to sensationally snub one of the Maroons’ most loyal servants over the past decade — Dane Gagai.

That is according to The Daily Telegraph’s David Riccio who believes Billy Slater will name Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow in the centres alongside Valentine Holmes.

Gagai, 32, has played 21 games for Queensland since making his debut in Game III of the 2015 series.

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“I am getting really strong mail here guys that Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow will be in the starting centres for Queensland,” Riccio said.

“I think that’s justified and I think that is based on how he did such a great job defensively in his last appearance for Queensland on Tom Trbojevic.

“It’s probably just another tick for the Dolphins if this does eventuate, which I’m confident it will.

“There would have been a thought for some players signing for the Dolphins that this might have an impact on my representative career.

Dane Gagai and Tom Trbojevic.

“But Tabuai-Fidow has had a wonderful year.”

Rugby league legend Greg Alexander was stunned by the news, claiming it was “disrespectful” to the gun centre who has consistently delivered for Queensland.

“That doesn’t sound very Queensland like to me… that would be disrespectful if Dane Gagai doesn’t get picked,” Alexander said.

Riccio also revealed that Kalyn Ponga is in the box seat for the fullback jersey, with Selwyn Cobbo and Xavier Coates on the wings.

Tom Trbojevic snub just a matter of time

Manly star Tom Trbojevic is facing the reality of being left out of NSW’s Origin squad and has struggled for form so far in 2023.

Questions have been raised regarding his fitness and the gun fullback hasn’t been able to recapture the form which earned him the Dally M Medal in 2021.

The Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield, albeit a huge fan of the barnstorming outside back, believes Brad Fittler will leave Trbojevic out of the squad for the series opener.

“Tom Trbojevic is one of my favourite players in the NRL, but no I wouldn’t pick him,” Rothfield said on the Big Sports Breakfast on Monday.

“I might look at him later on in the series but you are asking me for the first game in the series and look I just haven’t seen enough.

“I’m wondering if it is a psychological thing, that he’s not prepared to burst out of that running style. He was retrained to run when he went to America and I hate seeing champions struggle.”

Rothfield also pointed to the form of two players gunning for a spot in the NSW backline.

He believes Rabbitohs gun Campbell Graham and Panthers star Stephen Crichton are more deserving of earning the vacant centre spot than Trbojevic.

“We talk about Campbell Graham deserving his spot in the centres, another guy at Penrith no one is talking about,” Rothfield said.

“Stephen Crichton has been outstanding this year, so you can’t pick Turbo ahead of those two players.”

Originally published as ‘Disrespectful’: Slater set to dump Queensland cult hero