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Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n Two rounds remain before the first teams for the State of Origin series are named, and Queensland Maroons coach Billy Slater has a fullback dilemma.<\/p>\n Three men are vying for the No.1 jumper that the NRL great made famous. We break down the contenders.<\/p>\n For all the attacking wizardry he produces, one defensive play against the Roosters may have just sealed Reece Walsh\u2019s Queensland comeback.<\/p>\n As Sydney led 30-0 against the Broncos, Daniel Tupou\u2019s break created what appeared to be a simple two-on-one against Walsh and Roosters centre Hugo Savala.<\/p>\n But Walsh\u2019s positioning covered both men and eventually forced Savala into touch, in one of the elite try-saving tackles of the season. Brisbane went on to score four unanswered tries, with their momentum only halted by Pat Carrigan\u2019s error on the attack again, and Kotoni Staggs being sent to the sin bin.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Walsh would score the first of those tries, and set up another, but it was that never-say-die defensive play that no doubt would have made Slater sit up.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s one of those people who, if he puts his mind to it, can achieve anything,\u201d Broncos five-eighth Ezra Mam said of Walsh.<\/p>\n Related Article \u201cJust seeing his efforts off the ball and for him to round off his game is pretty impressive. Not many people can do a try-saver like that, and it just shows the effort he has and the competitiveness about his game.<\/p>\n \u201cTo see that [play] with the scoreline what it was, it\u2019s definitely inspiring for us boys. We obviously fell short, but it was really inspiring to see him do that.\u201d<\/p>\n Since Walsh and the Broncos burst into form from round 14 onwards last year, the club have conceded on average eight second-half points per game.<\/p>\n While injuries prevented him from featuring in last year\u2019s series triumph, his form at the back end of the year to deliver the Broncos a premiership garnered him the Clive Churchill Medal and a Kangaroos jersey.<\/p>\n If he can navigate Brisbane \u2013 which could be missing up to 15 top-flight players \u2013 to a win against Manly on Saturday night, the stage will be set for the 23-year-old to reunite with Slater.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow<\/p>\n He is the incumbent who helped inspire the Maroons\u2019 game-three series-sealing triumph last year, and has solidified his standing as the NRL\u2019s fastest man.<\/p>\n Tabuai-Fidow has also blossomed into one of the best support-play fullbacks in the game \u2013 regularly seen assisting a break on the inside to score, while he has become a lethal aerial threat that his Dolphins halfback, Isaiya Katoa, has exploited.<\/p>\n Perhaps what works against his hopes of clinching the No.1 jumper is his own versatility, having played the majority of his Origin career in the centres.<\/p>\n He has also filled in on the wing, and could be used there again given Xavier Coates (Achilles) and Murray Taulagi (concussion) remain sidelined, while Valentine Holmes has struggled for form with the Dragons and admitted, \u201cI haven\u2019t earned it this year\u201d.<\/p>\n Robert Toia appears to be the most likely of the centre options to be certain of inclusion, while Cowboys young guns Thomas Chester and Jaxon Purdue have shot out of the blocks in 2026. Dane Gagai, Selwyn Cobbo and Gehamat Shibasaki are other outside back options.<\/p>\n Tabuai-Fidow will feature somewhere in the Maroons\u2019 line-up, and the man himself admitted that while his preference in the Origin arena would be at centre, he was eager to assume any role Slater saw fit \u2013 albeit hopeful that he would lock down one spot for the whole campaign.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cWherever Billy wants me to play \u2013 I played all three positions last year \u2013 I think I can go out there and do a job,\u201d Tabuai-Fidow said ahead of the Dolphins\u2019 Thursday night clash with the Bulldogs.<\/p>\n \u201cThat [playing one position] is what you want to do, but when you put the team first, you can do anything, and with all the boys who have trust in you, you can excel.<\/p>\n \u201cMy preference would be at centre. I think I\u2019ve played most of my games at that level at centre, and I know what it takes to be a centre at that level. But I\u2019m not counting out wing, I\u2019ve done a job there before.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Kalyn Ponga<\/p>\n One game back from a hamstring strain was enough for Kalyn Ponga to land back on the Origin radar. Newcastle had struggled in their past three encounters, suffering heavy defeats to Penrith, Sydney and Wests Tigers.<\/p>\n They scored 58 points across those outings, and conceded 124. Ponga\u2019s comeback last week against a high-flying South Sydney Rabbitohs changed the Knights\u2019 fortunes, running for 204 metres, with seven tackle busts, while coming up with a linebreak and try assist in the 42-38 triumph.<\/p>\n Despite the points leaked, Ponga showed plenty of toughness flying towards a rampant Latrell Mitchell in an attempt to stop him short of the line. At this stage, however, it would appear Walsh has the inside running.<\/p>\n Working against Ponga is his limited football this year, which started brilliantly in Las Vegas before he suffered his injury setback 28 minutes into round two. But in his favour is the introduction of the six-man bench, where he could be called upon to cover a range of positions.<\/p>\n The 28-year-old made a star showing in his Origin debut as a ball-playing lock off the bench back in 2018 \u2013 running for 108 metres from 10 carries, including being brought agonisingly short of a decisive try by James Tedesco.<\/p>\n \u201cI think Kalyn probably steals that 14 [utility] position \u2026 I think Kalyn can play every position, same with Hammer, so I\u2019m sure they\u2019ll both be in the 19,\u201d Maroons captain Cameron Munster said on Nine\u2019s 100% Footy.<\/p>\n \u201cWith the great rules these days, you can have a bench and pretty much pick whoever you want in case someone gets an injury. It\u2019s a great luxury to have.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Start the day with a summary of the day\u2019s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n![\"Hamiso](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/d2b64940f481442874b05ec863a522de172cf9532ae24cfd5e5aaf61493156d4.jpeg\")
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Reece Walsh and Kalyn Ponga are vying for the Maroons\u2019 No.1 jumper.GettyReece Walsh<\/p>\n![\"Winner:](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1778068273_476_2603bdc5884b0eb7418f8697d84c2837237e7649.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Hamiso](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/66ae0f916e7b39b8a60cd6b188121fe25ce0fd6e.jpeg\")
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow in full flight.Getty Images<\/p>\n