Text message emerges as Billy Slater confirms Queensland bombshell

Queensland coach Billy Slater has made sweeping changes to his team for the State of Origin series and one star’s sad text has emerged.

Billy Slater and David Fifita.

Queensland coach Billy Slater has made sweeping changes to his team for the State of Origin series opener.

The Maroons legend on Monday morning confirmed the contentious decision to shun Titans star David Fifita.

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The Maroons have been hit with injuries to superstar players and Slater has been forced to roll the dice in some of the most critical positions on the field.

Dragons star Jaydn Su’A will take over from Fifita in the back-row, with Felise Kaufusi and Brendan Piakura in the extended squad.

Jeremiah Nanai will start on the other edge in the No. 12 jumper for the series opener at Accor Stadium on June 5 in Sydney.

With Cameron Munster the biggest out, the Maroons have made six changes to the team that lost Game 3 of the 2023 series, including:

— J’maine Hopgood will make his Origin debut

— Selwyn Cobbo will start on the bench

— Tom Dearden has won the battle for the No. 6 jumper ahead of Ezra Mam; and

— Jaydn Su’A has been recalled to play for Queensland for the first time since 2021.

Selwyn Cobbo celebrates. Picture: NRL Photos.

Slater’s first question when he fronted the press on Monday was about Fifita and the Melbourne Storm icon dropped a truth bomb on the axed Titan.

“This team doesn’t get selected over the last 24 hours, it’s a collection of habits over the course of the year and what players have done in the past,” Slater said.

“I wouldn’t say comfortable, that’s not what I feel right now.”

Slater went on to say: “Dave created a really high standard for his footy last year. He just hasn’t quite got to that standard this year.”

Slater also eluded to a classy text message he received from Fifita after he personally delivered the news that he’d been overlooked entirely.

“I spoke to Dave last night. He’s taken the disappointing news like a true Queenslander,” Slater said.

“He wished the best for the footy team. He further re-iterated that with a text message afterwards.

“I’ve got no doubt that David will get back to the footy that he did last year and will wear a Maroons jersey in the future again.”

Official Queensland team for Game 1

Billy Slater and David Fifita.

1 Reece Walsh

2 Xavier Coates

3 Valentine Holmes

4 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow

5 Murray Taulagi

6 Tom Dearden

7 Daly Cherry-Evans (c)

8 Reuben Cotter

9 Ben Hunt

10 Lindsay Collins

11 Jaydn Su’A

12 Jeremiah Nanai

13 Pat Carrigan

Bench:

14 Harry Grant

15 Moeaki Fotuaika

16 J’Maine Hopgood

17 Selwyn Cobbo

Reserves: 18. Felise Kaufusi, 19. Brendan Piakura, 20. Ezra Mam

Fifita was one of the Titans’ best players as Gold Coast secured a stunning upset win over the Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday and also played all three games during Queensland’s victorious 2023 series.

However, it appears his papers were marked long ago.

Queensland has selected Harry Grant, debutant J’Maine Hopgood, Mo Fotuaika and Selwyn Cobbo on the bench.

The axing comes after NSW Blues coach Michael Maguire delivered a new-look squad with six debutants named.

No room for you, David. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Billy swung the axe. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

Former Blues coach Brad Fittler spoke about the Blues squad shortly after it was announced with the NRL great believing Maguire has done a good job with his decisions.

“He hasn’t been given that jumper, he has absolutely gone out and taken it himself,” Fittler said on Channel 9.

“So congratulations to Dylan Edwards. There are some surprises. (Joseph) Sua’ali’i is a surprise to me.

“Spencer Leniu, I think he will do a fantastic job and Origin will suit him, but that’s a surprise.

“(Haumole) Olakau’atu deserves his spot. (Cam) McInnes, once again, he seems like an Origin type of player. But starting in front of Isaah Yeo, there are a lot of new players there.

“And with a new coach, it’s the time to do it. It’s a good team, they’ve all earned their positions, so well done and good luck to the boys.”