PONGA TO BOUNCE IN TO ORIGIN SHOWDOWN
QUEENSLAND coach Kevin Walters will blood another Maroons whizkid with Newcastle sensation Kalyn Ponga capping a meteoric rise by clinching his Origin debut.
Ponga’s attacking magic will lead to his inclusion today for Origin II this Sunday night at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium.
It is understood Ponga, 20, will be named as the No.14 utility at the expense of Anthony Milford, axed after his eleventh-hour bench callup for Origin I.
Ponga may yet start at No.1 if champion Billy Slater fails to recover by Wednesday from a hamstring complaint.
The selection of Ponga – Queensland’s 197th Origin player – caps a whirlwind 12 months for the exciting young gun born in Western Australia.
Last year, Ponga was still eligible for both New Zealand and Queensland before opting for the Maroons just six months ago after being named in the Emerging Origin squad.
Ponga’s numbers suggest he could tear NSW apart. After 24 career games, he has a staggering 123 tackle busts, 23 line breaks and 14 try assists.
In other news, injured prop Dylan Napa (ankle) will be given every chance to prove his fitness, while Jarrod Wallace has been retained despite his poor Origin I.
Tim Glasby will be named 18th man on standby for Napa.