Slater’s Maroons warning to Ponga

KALYN Ponga faces a fight to retain the Queensland No.1 jersey after new Maroons coach Billy Slater said the fullback race was wide open.

Ponga, who is under pressure to get Newcastle firing following a lacklustre start to the year, now faces competition from the likes of Warriors whiz kid Reece Walsh, Titans dynamo AJ Brimson and Cowboys speedster Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow for the Queensland fullback jersey.

The form of Ponga (pictured) has been sluggish on the back of a knee injury and Newcastle’s struggles.

He has only managed four games for the Maroons due to injuries since making his debut in 2018 and is no certainty to be picked for Origin I in Sydney on June 8.

Fullback is the only uncertain spine position for the Maroons. Halfback Daly Cherry-Evans, five-eighth Cameron Munster and hooker Harry Grant are in great form.

Slater, Queensland’s greatest fullback with 31 Origin appearances, said the state was blessed with talented custodians and he was watching them closely.

“Kalyn has been trying really hard,” Slater said. “His team hasn’t been going overly well but I see a lot of effort in his game and I know what he’s capable of.

“Reece had a week with the team last year (before game two). He trained really well. I was across all his stuff at training and I was sad for him when he went down with a hamstring injury in the captain’s run. He had a great week and I’m sure he will benefit from being part of that preparation.

“We’ve got a whole heap of players in different positions. Brimson has gone to fiveeighth and shown some real class. Val Holmes has moved to centre, where we haven’t had a lot of depth. There are a lot of things to think about.

“With me understanding the fullback position, watching the likes of Kalyn, Reece and Hammer (Tabuai-Fidow) has been enjoyable.

“We’ve got some really talented young players coming through when you look at the fullbacks.”