Gillett injury causing Walters problems

IT DIDN’T take long for Queensland coach Kevin Walters to dramatically change his tune about Matt Gillett’s fitness ahead of tonight’s State of Origin decider.

A confident Walters at first assured reporters the Maroons back-rower would uld be given until kick-off to overcome a groin strain.

But soon after that assurance yester- day, a less upbeat Walters emerged from the ANZ Stadium dressing room to again assemble surprised media.

“We just tried to run him there in the e warm-up and he is not coming up too well, so he won’t be playing,” Walters said.

“Now that he has been officially ruledd out we will make some decisions around that.” hat.”

It was a stunning about face from Walters l who earlier seemed confident Gillett would be given the green light.

“We will give him right up to game time, he’s in there now,” Walters said at first.

Suffice to say it didn’t go well. But the withdrawal of the Queensland squad’s most experienced forward was all Walters could confirm.

In fact there were more questions than answers about the make-up of Queensland’s pack after Walters’ dramatic news.

Teenager David Fifita had been tipped to be elevated to the starting side in his third Origin while 18th man Ethan Lowe looked set to make his Maroons debut off the bench. But eyebrows were raised by the addition of prop Dylan Napa to the squad yesterday.

While Napa is officially their new 18th man, Walters did not rule out the Canterbury enforcer leapfrogging the likes of Lowe and running out tonight.

“Dylan has come in as a precaution and preparing for Origin,” Walters said.

— Laine Clark