No kid gloves for big league debut
WELCOME to State of Origin.
That was the message for Kalyn Ponga from Queensland selectors yesterday, as the Maroons handed the young sensation a licence to thrill.
The 20- year- old Newcastle fullback will make his highly anticipated Origin debut on Sunday at ANZ Stadium, after weeks of Maroons greats, critics and fans calling for his inclusion in the Queensland side.
Maroons coach Kevin Walters named an 18- man squad yesterday but confirmed Ponga would be included on the bench as the team’s utility, following the loss of Michael Morgan to a torn bicep.
It will be a huge baptism for the thrilling talent.
But Queensland selector Gene Miles yesterday encouraged Ponga to not let the excitement faze him and instead embrace the experience.
“Don’t be overawed by it, get in there, get a touch of the ball, get hit a couple of times and welcome to State of Origin footy,” Miles said of his expectations of Ponga.
“Everyone’s been talking about him and he’s remained very levelheaded and feet firmly on the ground. His time has come.
“He’s been knocking on the door. We said before Game One that he’d be involved in the series at some stage and that stage is right now.”
Ponga has made an irresistible case to Queensland selectors with his form this season, in what is his first year with Newcastle.
Born in Western Australia and of Maori descent, Ponga spent most of his childhood in Mount Isa and Mackay and has long been hyped as a star of the future.
He is viewed as a long- term player for the Queensland team but Miles said there was no concrete plan around how they would inject Ponga into the game.
“The game will dictate where Kalyn plays and how long Kalyn will play,” he said. “Let’s just hope we see the best of the kid when he does get unleashed out there. “In attack, if there are some slow guys out there fatiguing, that’s obviously where he can really shine for us.
“If we have an unfortunate incident with one of our inside backs or hooker or so forth, he’s the man. He’ll have to muscle up and do everything a 14 player does. “We don’t want to put that much pressure on him, but he deserves his spot.
“All we want him to do is get out there and do his job. If he can weave a bit of magic, great.”
Ponga’s inclusion in the 18- man squad saw Broncos playmaker Anthony Milford dropped.
Milford came into the side in Game One when Morgan was moved off the bench to replace Billy Slater.