Billy Slater axed three players for State of Origin 3, bringing back Josh Papalii from retirement.
Billy Slater has sensationally axed three players from his Queensland squad for State of Origin 3, naming Reece Walsh as 18th man and bringing Josh Papalii out of rep retirement. Mo Fotuaika, Corey Horsburgh and Ezra Mam have all been dumped from the 20-player squad that Slater named for Game 2, with Fotuaika axed from the playing 17.
Slater has made the staggering call to bring Canberra veteran Papalii out of rep retirement, after he called it quits on his Origin career back in 2023. Papalii will start in the front-row in place of the axed Fotuaika, who's been underwhelming in the series so far.
Papalii's selection is another snub for Raiders teammate Horbsurgh, who many believe should have been picked in the first two games. But he's not even in the 20-player squad for the series decider, with Slater naming Walsh, Josh Kerr and J'maine Hopgood as his reserves.