SLATER MAKES CALL ON MAROONS FULLBACK

KALYN Ponga has staved off Reece Walsh’s bid for the Queensland No.1 jersey after impressing new Maroons coach Billy Slater during Newcastle’s disastrous season.

Ponga will be named Queensland’s fullback for Origin I, with only injury to prevent the incumbent custodian playing for the Maroons at Accor Stadium on June 8.

Ponga has attracted criticism over his performances and leadership during the Knights’ shocking start to the year, with Newcastle last on the ladder going into Friday night’s cellar-dweller Magic Round clash with Canterbury at Suncorp Stadium.

With only four Maroons appearances next to his name since debuting in 2018, Ponga has had an injury-affected Origin career and is facing competition from the likes of

Warriors whiz kid Walsh and Titans dynamo AJ Brimson.

“Do I think he is playing poorly? No I don’t,” Slater said. “I think he is putting in a whole lot of effort and he is juggling playing alongside different key players each week. It is really tough playing in a team that isn’t going so well.

“The one thing I like about Kalyn is he is showing those efforts to be in the game. It doesn’t overly concern me how the Knights are going.”