MANGO’S PICK

FORMER ORIGIN QUICK TIPS YOUNG STAR:

FORMER Maroons bench weapon Matt Bowen believes Kalyn Ponga could form a lethal double fullback assault with Billy Slater as calls grow for the Knights whiz kid to be picked.

Ponga has long been hyped as a future superstar and his reputation has only been enhanced after leaving the Cowboys for Newcastle in search of more first-grade time this season.

The 20-year-old has relished the extra responsibility at the rebuilding Knights, and has taken ownership of running the team after Mitchell Pearce was ruled out with a pectoral injury.

Cowboys legend Bowen played eight of his 10 Origin games off the bench, where he was given a licence to roam and target tiring Blues forwards with his speed and footwork.

North Queensland fiveeighth Michael Morgan is the hot favourite to claim the utility bench role for Origin I in Melbourne on June 6.

But Bowen said Ponga could provide some x-factor with star playmakers Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith all retired from representative football.

“I reckon he could give them that spark,” Bowen said.

“I defended on the wing and in attack I just popped up wherever, I ran in a fullback role and got into dummy half.

“Locky (Darren Lockyer) and I would play as two fullbacks, one on either side, and if they do the same it would put them in two minds.

Thurston was shattered when Ponga opted to leave the Cowboys and accept the Knights’ big-money deal.

“Origin can make or break you and I’ve seen Kalyn do some things that no one else can do at training,” Thurston said. “He’s going extremely well at the Knights and it’s an option for Kevvie (Walters, Maroons coach).”