‘I don’t know what I’m talking about’ – Cooper Cronk backtracks on Reece Walsh claim

Former Melbourne Storm and Queensland star Cooper Cronk has backtracked somewhat on his belief that Reece Walsh should be in the Maroons’ State of Origin squad.

Cronk was asked last week about his thoughts on Billy Slater’s decision to leave out Walsh despite the full-back having starred for Brisbane Broncos in 2025, but now Cronk has tweaked his view.

Walsh was also Australia’s number one for their 3-0 Ashes whitewash over England at the back end of last year, but Slater has instead decided to go with Newcastle Knights star Kalyn Ponga at full-back.

Cronk on Slater’s decision to leave out Walsh

Asked if there is anyone not selected in Queensland’s State of Origin squad whom he would have picked, Cronk told Fox League: “The obvious one is Reece Walsh for me.

“But I’m not going to go against an immortal in waiting in the best full-back to ever play the game, than Billy. He watches the full-back position better than anything else.

“Since I said Reece should be in the side, he said no. Well, I think that’s definitely the right answer. Because I don’t know what I’m talking about when it comes to full-back.

“I can understand the Kalyn Ponga spot, but I would have thought maybe on the bench. Maybe on the six-man bench is a spot you could put someone in.”

Should Walsh be in State of Origin squad?

Walsh’s omission has been a big talking point in rugby league circles, and it’s fair to say it doesn’t really have a lot to do with the full-back position.

Slater knows the full-back role better than anyone, and given Ponga’s form and Walsh’s stop-start to 2026, that selection makes sense.

But not having Walsh on the six-man bench is baffling. The 23-year-old is better than anyone at filling in multiple spine roles, and showed in last year’s finals, especially in the Grand Final, that he can take the game by the scruff of the neck when fellow spine players suffer injuries.