Explaining his decision, the Queensland coach said Kalyn Ponga \u2013 who was named at fullback \u2013 was in a \u201csweet spot\u201d of form compared to Walsh, who had not played \u201chis best football\u201d upon returning from a facial fracture two weeks ago.<\/p>\n
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However, Keary believes Slater isn\u2019t telling the whole story, declaring \u201csomething doesn\u2019t add up\u201d.<\/p>\n
Keary pointed to comments made by Cameron Smith, who served as an assistant coach for the Maroons under head coach Slater for two seasons in 2022 and 2023, suggesting he knew the Broncos star was set to be axed when Smith said he wouldn\u2019t pick Walsh in the squad at all<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cLast week Cam Smith, Queensland legend and very close friend of Billy Slater, named his Queensland team and it didn\u2019t have Reece Walsh in it,\u201d Keary said on\u00a0Channel 7\u2019s The Agenda Setters<\/a> on Monday night.<\/p>\n \u201cCam Smith works at the Brisbane Broncos as a leadership consultant, so he\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s something that doesn\u2019t add up and I don\u2019t know how to explain it.\u201d<\/p>\n Keary added that \u201cno way\u201d Walsh\u2019s axing was simply a form issue and said conversations will undoubtedly need to be had in the background.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s obviously a conversation Billy will have with Reece in the background,\u201d Keary continued.<\/p>\n \u201cI just find it very hard to believe that the Clive Churchill medallist, the best player in the Ashes series, he\u2019s probably the best player, behind Nathan Cleary, when he\u2019s on \u2014 and he hasn\u2019t been off this year.<\/p>\n \u201cHe got injured, but he hasn\u2019t been off, and Kalyn\u2019s been injured too. This isn\u2019t like Kalyn\u2019s absolute lit up the competition.\u201d<\/p>\n Cameron Smith reveals \u2018reason\u2019 behind Reece Walsh axing<\/p>\n![\"Aaron](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2d9b2d676cd676282ed1c6346345b26f.jpeg\")
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