The selection stunner comes on the back of the Queensland coach recalling Raiders legend Josh Papalii two years after the veteran prop forward retired from the Origin arena.
Papalii replaces Moeaki Fotuaika in the front row and will provide power and aggression in a winner takes all contest in Sydney, but it’s the Shibasaki selection that no one saw coming.
Slater bypassed Broncos fullback Reece Walsh, but made him 18th man, meaning he’ll miss Friday’s blockbuster clash with the Bulldogs.
Slater started the series by picking Robert Toia after just 10 appearances for the Roosters, and he’s now put his faith in Shibasaki whose NRL career looked set to fizzle out after playing for four clubs in six seasons.
He only scored six tries in those six years and even spent time in Japanese rugby, but a return to Brisbane has revived his career, with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow the only player in the NRL to score more than his 12 tries.
He’ll now mark Stephen Crichton who is regarded as the best centre in the world, with Valentine Holmes to play left wing which sees Tabuai-Fidow shift to fullback to replace the injured Kalyn Ponga.
Ponga will miss the decider after suffering a foot injury playing for Newcastle last week, with Slater not naming Broncos livewire Reece Walsh at fullback despite him being impressive since returning from his own knee issue which kept him out of the first two Origin matches.
Walsh is 18th man as the Maroons look to steal the series after losing at home and then bouncing back to stun NSW in Perth.
Queensland Maroons:
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Xavier Coates, Robert Toia, Gehamat Shibasaki, Valentine Holmes, Cameron Munster, Tom Dearden, Josh Papalii, Harry Grant, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Reuben Cotter, Kurt Capewell, Trent Loiero, Kurt Mann, Lindsay Collins, Pat Carrigan, Jeremiah Nanai, Reece Walsh, J’maine Hopgood, Josh Kerr
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