Gun duo face fullback duel
Walsh and Ponga vie to be Maroons’ Origin custodian
Queensland coach Billy Slater says Reece Walsh can go to another level in this year’s Origin series as the Broncos superstar braces for a six-week shootout with Kalyn Ponga for the fullback spot.
Having overcome his concussion dramas, Ponga has made himself available for selection for Origin, putting the Knights champion on a collision course with Walsh for the Queensland No.1 jumper.
Ponga’s scratching for last year’s series opened the door for Walsh, who was magnificent in the opening two games, clinching the series before missing the dead rubber in Origin III due to suspension.
Queensland selectors face an agonising decision at fullback. Do they keep faith in Broncos grand-final fullback Walsh or revert to 2022 incumbent Ponga, who stormed to last year’s Dally M Medal after sitting out the Origin series.
While Slater hasn’t ruled out picking both men in his 17-man squad, the next six games will determine whether Walsh or Ponga clinches the No.1 jumper for the series opener in Sydney on June 5.
“You don’t know what’s going to happen in a month’s time,’’ Slater said. “There are still six games to be played and we’ve already had some cards taken off the table for us that were out of our control in regards to injuries.
“Reece and Kalyn are in control of where they are and where they are going with their careers and performances.
“If you ask those guys, they would love nothing more than to be teammates and that’s a possibility as well.”
AJ Brimson is technically the fullback incumbent after playing Origin III last year but Slater has not forgotten Walsh’s brilliance in the opening two games that fired the Maroons to an unassailable 2-0 lead.
While the 26-year-old Ponga is more experienced than Walsh, Slater believes the Broncos fullback is only scratching the surface of his talent as “Reece Lightning” looks to inflict more misery on the Blues.
“You have to remember Reece is only 21 years old,” Slater said. “Take yourself back to when you were 21 and where you were in life.
“Sometimes we forget how young Reece is.
“We see these guys on the TV and expect them to be perfect all the time.
“The growth that Reece has shown in his game in the last two seasons is incredible.
“He is a wonderful player and he will continue to grow because of the person he is.”
Ponga stood down from last year’s series after consulting Slater, who said he had been in fresh discussions with the Newcastle skipper about his importance to Queensland’s hopes this season.