NRL great Luke Keary has expressed bewilderment over Reece Walsh's omission from Queensland's squad for the State of Origin series opener, suggesting that 'something doesn't add up' and floating a conspiracy theory regarding the non-selection of the football superstar.
Speaking on Channel Seven's The Agenda Setters on Monday, the three-time premiership winner found it incredible that the electrifying Brisbane Broncos fullback was overlooked, even for a bench spot, for the May 27 clash in Sydney.
'Last week Cam Smith, Queensland legend and very close friend of Billy Slater, named his (Queensland) team and it didn't have Reece Walsh in it,' Keary said. 'Cam Smith works at the Brisbane Broncos as a leadership consultant, so he's obviously close with Reece and that team... for him to not have (Walsh) in that team, it was very, very bizarre to me. Very bizarre.'
'There's something that doesn't add up and I don't know how to explain it.'
Keary went further, highlighting Walsh's outstanding individual 2025 season. Walsh suffered a fractured left cheekbone during a match against the Gold Coast Titans in April, prompting Slater to select Kalyn Ponga for game one of the Origin series in Sydney.
'I just find it very hard to believe that the Clive Churchill medallist, the best player in the Ashes series, he's probably the best player, behind Nathan Cleary, when he's on — and he hasn't been off this year,' Keary added. 'He got injured, but he (Walsh) hasn't been off.'
Slater told reporters it was a 'difficult' decision to drop Walsh, but expressed confidence in Ponga's ability to provide x-factor for the Maroons in the number 1 jersey.
'It is difficult, but we've all seen what Kalyn's done at this level and also his return for the Knights this year,' Slater said. 'He's in exceptional form and I feel his best position is fullback. He knows how to play that position and has really nailed it.'
'He's in a sweet spot of his career and life.'
Ponga recently returned from a hamstring injury sustained in March against the Sea Eagles. Smith addressed Walsh's omission on Channel Nine's 100% Footy, pointing to his poor defensive reads in the three rounds for Brisbane, where the Broncos suffered defeats to the Roosters, Sea Eagles, and Warriors.
