0
0
Maroons legend and selector Gene Miles has backed the “heavy” decision from head coach Billy Slater to leave star back-rower David Fifita out of the squad.
In one of the most surprising selection calls heading into the State of Origin opener, the rampaging Titans star was overlooked as Jaydn Su’A and Jeremiah Nanai earned selection in the starting second-row positions.
Fifita featured in all three games for Queensland last year in the series win over NSW, but despite putting up enormous numbers in a struggling Gold Coast outfit, Slater questioned the ‘standards’ shown by the 24-year-old.
READ MORE: Fittler rips ‘uneducated’ Origin view as key call burns
READ MORE: Tragic reason golf champion is retiring at 29
READ MORE: Where Horan would put homeless Wallabies in 2025
Speaking on SEN Radio, those sentiments were backed by Miles, who was heavily involved throughout the selection process heading into game one.
“That was pretty heavy,” he said.
David Fifita has missed out on State of Origin selection. Getty
“David set himself some really high standards last year … he just doesn’t come up to that standard this year. Billy’s also had a chat to him and he rang him when the selections came out and explained to him why he wasn’t [in the squad].
“Dave was fine – he wasn’t fine with it, but obviously accepted it and he’s going to go back and work on a couple of things.
“The fatigue in these games and efforts, you’ve got to have players out there who are going to turn up when they are expected to.”
This season, Fifita has averaged 150 run metres and 24 tackles per game, while also producing 17 offloads in just nine appearances in clubland.
Watch the 2024 State of Origin series exclusively live and free on Nine and 9Now.
His statistics compared to both Nanai and Su’A, as well as reserves Felise Kaufusi and Brendan Piakura, would suggest that Fifita should have been included.
But according to Miles, the selection of Su’A was an “automatic” one after not playing at the Origin level for the past two years.
Jaydn Su’A has been a strong performer for St George Illawarra this season. Getty
“Billy has been monitoring him, he’s sat down and had quite a few chats with him,” Miles explained.
“He’s really excelled Jaydn, his last game was up in Townsville and it was a disaster – we got beaten by 50. Jaydn has been in the wilderness for a bit, but he’s shown that he really wanted to be part of this team when Billy set him a couple of goals.
“Jaydn has obviously done that and he was an automatic selection.”
Slater picked just one debutant in the 17-man lineup for the series opener, with Eels hardman J’maine Hopgood earning a spot on the bench.
