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Billy Slater cops fresh wave of backlash as David Fifita snub blows up in Queensland coach's face

Fifita's omission from the Maroons Origin squad has been heavily criticised.

ben talintyre
Sports Reporter
·4-min read

Billy Slater's decision to not pick Titans powerhouse David Fifita was one of the biggest talking points of the 2024 State of Origin series. And after losing the shield to their bitter rivals, the Queensland coach has come under fire for his controversial and peculiar call to leave Fifita out.

The rampaging back-rower saw himself for one reason or another fall well down Billy Slater's pecking order despite playing in all three Origin games in last year's 2-1 series win. After shocking the NRL world by dropping Fifita for Game 1, Slater said: "I've got no doubt that Dave will get back to the footy he played last year, and I'm sure he will wear a Maroons jersey in the future again. Dave created a really high standard for his footy last year. He just hasn’t quite got to that standard this year."

Pictured left Billy Slater and right Felise Kaufusi and Reece Walsh
Billy Slater's decision to leave out David Fifita from the Maroons Origin squad has been heavily criticised. Image: Getty

In Game 1, Slater's blushes were saved by an early Joseph Suaalii send-off, which somewhat rendered the Maroons coach's selection choice mute, as Queensland comfortably ran away with the game. But in Game 2 it was a different story, with NSW dominating the middle. At the MCG Michael Maguire's men rolled through the Queensland pack with ease before blitzing the Maroons on the edges with their speed.

After a 38-18 defeat in Game 2, Slater was urged to make several changes for Game 3 to match the muscle in the middle of the Blues and the no-brainer was seemingly to pick Fifita, who had been in strong form at clubland. However, Slater shockingly opted to snub the second-rower again and instead promoted Kurt Capewell to the starting team.

The Queensland coach claimed it was due to him not reaching the heights he set himself in 2023 and said he has selected the best 17 for the job at Suncorp Stadium. “We feel that the 17 players that have been chosen are the 17 players that have earned the opportunity to be here,” Slater said.

But those reasons don't stack up. Fifita has averaged 151 run metres per game in 2024, compared to 145m per game last season and he's already managed 25 offloads, six linebreaks, ten linebreak assists and four tries. Rumours have circulated that Fifita's snub might be down to his decision to backflip on joining the Sydney Roosters, while others have suggested Slater wants players who get through more work and don't float in and out of games like Fifita can.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 12: David Fifita of the Maroons reacts during game three of the State of Origin series between New South Wales Blues and Queensland Maroons at Accor Stadium on July 12, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Queensland fans want answers as to why David Fifita was left out of Origin.

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Slater was heavily criticised for the decision ahead of Game 3 and after being outplayed once again fans were quick to criticise Slater's peculiar selection choices. The likes of Jeremiah Nanai, Jaydn Su'A, Kurt Capewell and Felise Kaufusi all played Origin minutes in 2024 and were preferred over Fifita but none of them produced on the field. And fans, in particular Queenslanders, are demanding answers as to why Slater overlooked seemingly the most obvious selection of all.