INJURY ENDS MORGAN’S SEASON PAGE 37
QUEENSLAND coach Kevin Walters will blood another Maroons whiz- kid with Newcastle sensation Kalyn Ponga capping a meteoric rise by clinching his State of Origin debut.
The Townsville Bulletin can re- veal Queensland selectors can no longer ignore Ponga’s attacking magic with the boom 20- year- old securing his maiden Maroons jumper for Origin II this Sunday night at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium.
It is understood Ponga will be named as Queensland’s No. 14 utility today at the expense of Anthony Milford, who has been axed after his eleventh- hour call- up for Origin I.
And Ponga may yet start at fullback if Billy Slater fails to recover by Wednesday from a hamstring complaint.
Storm champion Cameron Smith called for Ponga to be picked after yesterday’s Melbourne- Knights clash and Wal- bench ters has heeded the advice of his former Queensland skipper.
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 their Emerging Origin squad.
Now he is a fully- fledged Maroon after just 24 NRL games, with Smith, who skippered Queensland to Origin glory last year, adamant Ponga is ready to terrorise the Blues.