Footy legend Darren Lockyer solves State of Origin's biggest mystery - and one of the NRL's best players won't be happy

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Former Queensland skipper Darren Lockyer has an answer for footy fans who can't understand Maroons coach Billy Slater's failure to pick David Fifita for NSW: he can be a liability when he's tired.

The Gold Coast wrecking ball has been snubbed for every match of this year's series after playing in all three games when the Cane Toads won the shield last year.

His form for the Titans has been very good recently, adding to fans' frustration over his absence - and Slater has danced around the issue under questioning, saying only that the 24-year-old hasn't reproduced his 2023 form after being badly injured in the preseason.

However, Lockyer didn't mince his words when he lifted the lid on the reason for the shock omission on a podcast.

'Dave has obviously found some form in the last few weeks and that's with the Titans going a bit better,' Lockyer said.

'Billy watches a lot of football. He would've studied Dave over the last three weeks.

'I think the biggest thing for Dave to work on is when he gets fatigued or tired, that's when the habits of an Origin player are important.

'That's just one part of Dave's game that he can be better at and if he takes that on board and takes the disappointment and knows that there are still little things he needs to get better [at] ... it's up to him now.'

Legendary former Maroons skipper Darren Lockyer (pictured) has pulled no punches as he explained why David Fifita cannot get a spot in the Queensland team this year

The Gold Coast forward (pictured) has been in good form over the last few weeks but has been snubbed by coach Billy Slater - and Lockyer says it's because he's a liability when he's fatigued

Slater (pictured) has refused to go into detail about why Fifita hasn't made the team for any of this year's games after starring in every match during last year's series win over NSW

Slater was quizzed again on Monday about why Fifita, who had one of his best games of the season in the 66-6 win over the Warriors a fortnight ago, was overlooked.

'All Queenslanders are considered and Dave's name has been in the conversation for all games,' Slater said.

' Like I said at the start of the series, he started the season behind the eight ball with a pec injury, he didn't have a great pre-season and he is still working back to the standard he set for himself last year.

'I'm sure he would be the first one to admit that. These conversations aren't just throwaway conversations we have behind closed doors, this is the 17 we feel is the best for game three.'

Slater has not gone into detail about the areas where Fifita has not quite hit the high notes in 2024.

Titans coach Des Hasler said before the Maroons team was announced that Fifita had been 'pretty consistent across the piece'.

Many fans think Fifita (pictured running the ball against the Warriors last month) should've been picked for the decider after the Maroons pack was smashed by the Blues in game two 

'He has been interrupted with various injuries but I think his last month of footy has been quite strong,' Hasler said.

Fifita's cousin and Titans teammate Jojo Fifita said the Origin snub would only inspire David.

'It's unfortunate for Dave,' Jojo said.

'I reckon the Maroons jersey is a major inspiration for him to improve throughout the year.

'If he keeps going the way he is there is no doubt he will make the team next year.'