It was the omission which had everyone talking in game one, and now Broncos fullback Reece Walsh will be looking to make his impact on this year’s State of Origin series.

Though this time around he will be in the No.18 jersey, as opposed to his usual spot as starting No.1.

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It has a few pundits questioning how he will be injected into the game by Queensland coach Billy Slater, if at all.

One person who knows Walsh and Queensland better than most is former Maroons and Broncos coach Kevin Walters, who gave his take on how his state could use the 23 year old in Melbourne.

“I think Kalyn Ponga will move into the middle, and Reece will go back to fullback, that would be one way that Billy could use Reece in the game,” Walters told The Late Show with Fletch on Fox League.

“That’s going to create a lot of problems for New South Wales… I think he (Walsh) can be the difference in Melbourne.

Speaking with him on the couch, former NSW Origin half Luke Keary had other ideas.

“I think he (Walsh) sits on the pine,” Keary added.

“I just can’t see why you’d bring Reece into the side, and then just have him there in case something happens,” Walters countered.

“Kalyn Ponga and Reece Walsh on the field at the same time is dangerous.”

Walsh’s return adds further depth to the Queensland backline ahead of their must-win contest.

The Broncos fullback joins Ponga, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Selwyn Cobbo and Cameron Munster as players who can all fill-in for the fullback role should the worst happen.

Reece Walsh runs during a Queensland Maroons training session at Sunshine Coast Stadium.Source: Getty Images

‘HE WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO PLAYING AGAINST QUEENSLAND’: FORAN MAKES 200KM ROUND TRIP TO CHECK ON AXED BLUE

Manly coach Kieran Foran’s schedule is a little more open this week with the Sea Eagles having the bye, so he’s filled the time by heading to Blues camp in the Central Coast to catch up with axed blues back rower Haumole Olakau’atu.

The Manly big man was sensationally dropped down to jersey No.20 for game two after starting in game one, coming as a shock to many in the aftermath.

He wasn’t informed of the decision by Blues coach Laurie Daley until they entered Blues camp earlier in the week.

It prompted a visit from his club coach to check in on his in-form forward, with Foran spotted by Nine cameras having a coffee with Olakau’atu on Thursday.

“I know it can be really hard as a player when you miss out on these representative sides. He was looking forward to playing against Queensland,” Foran told the Sydney Morning Herald.

His axing perplexing a lot of commentators, particularly after his barnstorming game for the Sea Eagles against the Rabbitohs in his first game since the first State of Origin match last week.

Olakau’atu was at his barnstorming best, running for 266 metres across 24 carries – with a staggering 140 of those run metres post-contact. He also made five tackle busts to go along with a try assist and line break assist.

Daley questioned on big Olakau’atu call | 01:31

The panel on The Late Show with Fletch adding numbers like those are why he’s one of, if not the most destructive second rower in the competition.

“I think he’s the best back rower in the NRL,” former Blues half Luke Keary told Fox League.

“He ran for the most metres in our (New South Wales) forward pack. I thought that he was our best option as a right back rower,” fellow former Blue Bryan Fletcher continued.

Another former New South Wales representative in Nathan Hindmarsh trying to find a reason as to why coach Daley made the decision.

“A little bit (surprised)… because he is in form at the moment with Manly.

“He didn’t have the best game in Origin one but it was hard for them to use him how they wanted to use him.

“They were under the pump early, it took a bit of gas out of him, so I would’ve liked to have seen him probably get another start in there to see if they could have used him a little bit better.

“I don’t know whether they’re worried about his speed laterally?” Hindmarsh continued.

“(Queensland have) A little more pace on the edges, that’s what I’m concerned with. That’s the only thing I can think about.”

Keary’s incredible Origin debut story | 02:13

Currently, Queensland’s starting back row will consist of Warriors forward Kurt Capewell and Cronulla’s Briton Nikora.

Newcastle Knights second rower Dylan Lucas has taken Olakau’atu’s spot in the New South Wales starting line up after being named in the extended squad for game one.

He is slated to make his official State of Origin debut for the clash in Melbourne.