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3 months ago
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Footy great Laurie Daley has helped float a theory to explain why David Fifita was axed for Game I of Origin, despite the Gold Coast wrecking-ball being among the most destructive players in the game.
Queensland coach Billy Slater says David Fifita hasn't got to the 'high standards' he set last season as he explained his decision to drop him for the series opener.
Parramatta forward J'maine Hopgood has come in to the starting team as the lone debutant in the 17 to face NSW on June 5 taking the place of Fifita.
While the Blues have made mass changes under new coach Michael Maguire, Slater has the luxury of sticking with the bulk of the squad that has won the past two series, although there are a couple of tweaks with Jaydn Su'A returning for the first time since 2021.
Laurie Daley (pictured) believes the surprise decision to axe David Fifita might have something to do with his recent backflip on a deal with the Roosters
David Fifita (pictured) played all three Origin games last year and remains one of the most destructive players in the game when he's in top form
He starts in the back row in place of Fifita who has been in sparkling form this season and scored one of Queensland's two tries in the game three loss last year.
Daley believes that the decision to axe Fifita might have something to do with his recent decision to sensationally backflip on his deal to defect to the Roosters in a megabucks four-year deal.
Fifita was booed after putting himself on the open market in a similar way to how Daly Cherry-Evans was treated after he backflipped on his deal to join the Titans.
Cherry-Evans was loathed north of the border for years afterwards and exiled from the Origin team.
'I'm shocked David Fifita isn't there. He played all three games last year,' Gerard Middleton said on Sky Sports.
'Conspiracy theory. The backflip. How that's viewed externally? Whether they think that's the right mindset.'
Daley suggested that it could be part of the reason for the decision to drop him.
'And he was great last year too,' Daley said of Fifita.
Daley said that as a NSW supporter he's glad Fifita wasn't selected by the Maroons
Maroons coach Billy Slater (pictured) said Fifita has not played at the same high standard that he reached last year
'Didn't Daly Cherry-Evans, when he made that decision to backflip too, didn't he get left out of that Queensland side? I'm pretty sure around that time, he might have been exiled. That might be part of it. I'm not sure. But yesterday's performance from Fifita was damaging, the amount of work that he got through.
'I must say, if I'm NSW I'm happy he's not in that squad.'
Slater has turned to North Queensland's Tom Dearden to replace the injured Cameron Munster who will miss the series with a groin injury, with the Cowboys five-eighth showing he's ready for the Origin arena after he starred in the 2022 decider on debut.
'You don't have to watch Tommy for too long to understand what he brings to a footy team,' he said.
'The one thing that Queensland did have when Cam Munster went down was quality players that could fill in that position.
'There wasn't a wrong decision there (at five-eighth), but I felt Tommy has earnt this opportunity.
'He has great habits in his his game and he has done a great job for Queensland.'
Ben Hunt will again start at hooker with Harry Grant to come off the bench where he's joined by Broncos centre Selwyn Cobbo who will cover for any injuries in the outside backs.
'Certainly he is there for a bit of cover but at the same time Selwyn can play various positions,' Slater said.
'I might even create one for him, who knows.
'We will plan that as the week goes on, but he is a wonderful player and we have only scratched the surface of what he can do.'
Dolphins hitman Felise Kaufusi is back in the squad as 18th man, while Broncos young guns Ezra Mam and Brendan Piakura are also on standby for the series opener.
QUEENSLAND SQUAD FOR GAME 1
1. Reece Walsh, Brisbane Broncos
2. Xavier Coates, Melbourne Storm
3. Valentine Holmes, North Queensland Cowboys
4. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, The Dolphins
5. Murray Taulagi, North Queensland Cowboys
6. Tom Dearden, North Queensland Cowboys
7. Daly Cherry-Evans (C), Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
8. Reuben Cotter, North Queensland Cowboys
9. Ben Hunt, St George Illawarra Dragons
10. Lindsay Collins, Sydney Roosters
11. Jaydn Su'A, St George Illawarra Dragons
12. Jeremiah Nanai, North Queensland Cowboys
13. Patrick Carrigan, Brisbane Broncos
14. Harry Grant, Melbourne Storm
15. Moeaki Fotuaika, Gold Coast Titans
16. J'maine Hopgood, Parramatta Eels
17. Selwyn Cobbo, Brisbane Broncos
18. Felise Kaufusi, The Dolphins
19. Brendan Piakura, Brisbane Broncos
20. Ezra Mam, Brisbane Broncos
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