Reece Walsh may not be the frontrunner for the Queensland No. 1 jersey in Game II, yet his inclusion could be crucial for the Maroons to salvage the series.
Billy Slater opted to exclude Walsh from the opener entirely, and the star from the Broncos has acknowledged that his form wasn't up to par for selection in Game I. However, he has a significant opportunity to prove himself when Brisbane takes on Gold Coast this Saturday, just before teams are announced on Monday.
While his Broncos teammates Gehamat Shibasaki and Ezra Mam were included on Queensland's six-man bench for the first game, neither played.
Shibasaki is unavailable due to an injury that will keep him sidelined for approximately five to six weeks, and Mam has been shifted to the bench for the upcoming Titans match, putting his chances with the Maroons in jeopardy.
Though Walsh's performance this season hasn't been stellar, many in the rugby league community agree that, at his best, he'd be one of the top picks for Queensland.
Kalyn Ponga appears set to claim the No. 1 jersey following his impressive showing in the opener. However, according to Michael Carayannis from The Daily Telegraph, Walsh's talent cannot simply be overlooked.