Kalyn Ponga out of State of Origin decider with calf injury

Kalyn Ponga has been ruled out for two weeks due to a calf injury, essentially putting an end to his hopes of playing the Origin decider. We rate the men most likely to fill his boots.

Kalyn Ponga missed the Round 15 clash.

Kalyn Ponga is all but out of the State of Origin decider.

The Knights on Sunday confirmed Ponga will be sidelined for two weeks due to a calf injury, putting an end to his hopes of playing the Origin decider.

With Origin 3 just 10 days away, Ponga is highly unlikely to be ready in time for the blockbuster at ANZ Stadium next Wednesday.

Scans have confirmed a calf strain for Kalyn Ponga and he is expected to miss the next 2 weeks. That would rule him out of Origin 3 in 1.5 weeks time. Even though it is likely a low grade calf strain, not an injury that can be rushed in regard to return (high re-injury rate)

— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) June 30, 2019

Ponga was injured during Origin 2 in Perth during Queensland’s 38-6 loss to NSW.

He was initially named to line up for the Knights in Round 15 but was a late withdrawal after the injury flared up.

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Kalyn Ponga missed the Round 15 clash.

“Kalyn Ponga had scans on Sunday morning to determine the severity of his calf injury,” the Knights said in a statement.

“The scans showed he has suffered a strain.

Kalyn Ponga picked up the injury in Origin 3.

“Ponga picked up the injury during State of Origin week and sat out the Knights’ 26-12 win over Brisbane as a result.

“He is expected to miss the next two weeks.”

THE MANY PARTS TO PONGA PUZZLE

Three men are considered most likely to replace Ponga at fullback for Origin III but each comes with issues. Two are current members of the team and shifting them creates another problem, one is a former gun fullback who has not played at the position for years — until he did on Saturday night.

Cameron Munster: The Storm star plays five-eighth for the ladder leaders but many believe his best position is fullback. Munster is the current Maroons five-eighth and his fledgling combination with Queensland skipper Daly Cherry-Evans was a driving force behind the Maroons’ win in Origin I. If Munster was to be moved, then incumbent hooker Ben Hunt or incumbent centre Michael Morgan could move into the halves. If Queensland were to look outside of their current squad the men most likely to fill Munster’s boots are Anthony Milford or Corey Norman.

Many believe Cameron Munster’s best position is fullback. Picture: Adam Head

Michael Morgan: Speaking of Morgan, the North Queensland captain is an experienced fullback who could fill the role. However, Queensland’s centre stocks are thin. If Morgan were moved that may see Dane Gagai move into the centres and Kyle Feldt promoted (Edrick Lee would have been a frontrunner as he has been in the shadow squad but the Newcastle winger suffered a suspected broken arm on Saturday night).

Anthony Milford: Milford has been playing in the halves for Brisbane in 2019 but, perhaps fortuitously for Queensland, the Broncos selected him at fullback for their Round 15 game. Milford was a star at fullback during his days with the Raiders, and while he showed some flashes of brilliance on Saturday night he was largely uninspiring.

There are other options for the Maroons with Corey Norman and AJ Brimson both members of the Queensland Emerging State of Origin Squad for 2019 but it would be a huge ask to put either man into the side for the decider.

And then there is the real bombshell option — the return of Cameron Smith to the Origin arena. Ponga’s absence leaves Queensland without a recognised goalkicker and if Smith were to come into the side (pushing Hunt to the halves and Munster to fullback) that would solve both problems.