Queensland Maroons coach Billy Slater has a massive selection headache on his hands ahead of the 2024 State of Origin series, picking between Kalyn Ponga and Reece Walsh at fullback.
Ponga, who withdrew from Origin selection last year to focus on club football went on to win the 2023 Dally M Medal, whilst his replacement Reece Walsh took the opportunity to assert himself as one of the best fullbacks in the league.
Starring in the No.1 jersey for the Maroons last year, Walsh would be next to impossible to drop from this year’s side, but can Slater find a spot for Ponga outside of his natural position?
With the Queensland coach admitting he is open to the idea, SEN’s Mat Rogers revealed he wants to see Ponga return to the position where he made his debut for his state in 2018.
“I think Reece Walsh attacks to the right-side way better than the left and Kalyn Ponga is the opposite,” Rogers said on SEN 1170 Sportsday.
“Could you imagine Kalyn Ponga (coming off the bench) in the No.13 (role), just having them both sitting out the back on both sides.
“Could you imagine having those two guys on both sides of the field, you’ve got Munster on one side, Cherry-Evans on the other, they’ve just got their shape setup.
“You’re always short a man because you got the fullback defending out the back. “New South Wales are in so much trouble.”
SEN’s Scott Sattler was surprised at the idea at first but after remembering Ponga’s stunning Origin debut, he put all his support behind the potential move.
“I never thought of the 13 (role for Ponga), I always thought he’d handle centre really well if someone went down in the centres, in his (Origin) debut, he went on as a lock,” Sattler added.
Ponga confirmed at the end of last season that he is hopeful of a return to the Origin arena.