NRL 2024: Billy Slater hints at Reece Walsh, Kalyn Ponga dual Origin threat for Queensland Maroons

Kalyn Ponga or Reece Walsh? Queensland coach Billy Slater has sent chills through NSW camp, declaring the Maroons excitement machines could be unleashed together in 2024.

Ezra Mam has been called into Maroons camp. Picture: Adam Head

The Blues could be in for another series of Origin pain after Queensland coach Billy Slater declared NRL excitement machines Reece Walsh and Kalyn Ponga may be unleashed together.

Slater assembled 34 past, current and emerging Queensland players in Brisbane this weekend for a bonding camp in the lead-up to the 2024 NRL season kicking off.

Among the group was reigning Dally M Medal winner Ponga, who starred in the 2022 decider at fullback before missing last year’s series due to concussion issues.

Ponga, 25, was replaced by Broncos sensation Walsh, 21, who didn’t look out of place in his first two Origin appearances before he was suspended for Game Three.

With Ponga back in the selection mix following his blistering finish to the 2023 NRL season with Newcastle, which saw him crowned the competition’s player of the year, Slater has a selection headache ahead of him.

But as he embarks on a quest to win a third straight series, Slater said Walsh and Ponga could yet feature in the same 17, which should send shivers down the spine of the battered Blues and new coach Michael Maguire following back-to-back series defeats.

Reece Walsh or Kalyn Ponga? Billy Slater has hinted both could feature in the Maroons plans for 2024.

“They’ve both contributed immensely to the 2022 and 23 series,” Slater said of Ponga and Walsh.

“They’re both Queenslanders and I’m sure they’d love to be teammates one day as well.

“Everything is a possibility. They’re wonderful players.

“We’ve got 34 players who have earnt the right to be here and 17 will have their names read out for the first game.

“Sure, there’s competition, but they’re teammates as well and they understand who they’re playing for and the selflessness you need to have to be successful.

“That’s why they’re in the position they’re in.”

The Maroons made an appearance at Wests Juniors yesterday and conducted hospital visits before gathering for a team dinner.

While they didn’t hit the training paddock, some footy discussion was on the agenda as Slater plots a hat-trick of series wins to continue the hot start to his Origin coaching career.

“It’s important to remember what they’ve already created and the foundations to their game,” he said.

Slater invited both Ponga and Walsh to the Maroons 34-man Maroons bonding camp in Brisbane. Picture: Richard Walker

“They get the opportunity to go back to their clubs and practice those actions because we’ll need them in June.

“I don’t think it’s ever a clean slate. We’ve got 34 players in Brisbane this weekend that have created a foundation to their footy over the last couple of series.

“To throw that all out and start again would be quite silly. It’s important to remember what those actions are and how hard it was to build them.

“These guys have worked too hard to forge the connection on who they’re playing with and for and how their footy looks.”

While Slater isn’t forecasting big changes to the Maroons, he will be without lieutenant Cameron Smith after Origin’s most-capped player stepped down from his assistant coaching role.

But that doesn’t mean Smith, who has been replaced by Matt Ballin, won’t be involved in Queensland’s quest for three straight series wins.

“I’m very grateful for what he’s been able to contribute to this team,” Slater said.

“For this group of men to rub shoulders with Cameron Smith in two Origin series, they’ve learnt a whole heap from him and so have we as coaches. I see it as a huge benefit.

“I’m pretty sure he’s still my mate and I’ve still got his phone number and he’ll still pick up his phone.

“He’ll still be there in the background somewhere.”

The 2024 State of Origin series kicks off at Sydney’s Accor Stadium on June 5 before moving to the MCG on June 26 and finishing at Suncorp Stadium on July 17.

QLD SQUAD: MAROON MAM EDGES CLOSER TO ORIGIN DEBUT

—Travis Meyn and Peter Badel

Broncos five-eighth Ezra Mam has rocketed into the frame for a Queensland Origin debut on the back of his NRL grand final heroics after being invited to an exclusive Maroons camp this weekend.

Mam will be one of 34 current and emerging Queensland players gathering in Brisbane for the bonding camp as Billy Slater kicks off his quest for three straight Origin series wins this year.

All of the players to feature in Queensland’s winning 2023 series have been invited along with the next crop of Maroons stars.

After scoring a stunning hat-trick in last year’s premiership decider loss to Penrith, Mam headlines the list of uncapped Maroons prospects along with Cowboys weapon Heilum Luki, Titans forward Beau Fermor, Eels workhorse J’maine Hopgood and Roosters playmaker Sam Walker.

Slater, who lost key lieutenant Cameron Smith this week, has also invited experienced players who were overlooked for selection last year in Kalyn Ponga, Kurt Capewell, Corey Oates and Dane Gagai, showing their Origin days may not be over.

While Storm star Cameron Munster is firmly entrenched in the Queensland No. 6 jersey, captain Daly Cherry-Evans is nearing retirement and Slater is preparing for the next generation of Maroons playmakers.

Ezra Mam. Picture: Adam Head

Kalyn Ponga returns to the Maroons. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Tom Dearden shone in Munster’s absence in the 2022 decider and now the likes of Walker and Mam are banging on the door.

Mam, who turned 21 this week, recently said he was determined to play for Queensland.

“Origin is definitely a goal of mine,” he said.

“Right now I am just trying to nail my game here (at the Broncos).

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE EVERY MEMBER OF THE MAROONS CAMP

“Hopefully I can put some good games of footy together and impress people at the Maroons. But my focus is the Broncos, I need to play well for them first.”

After missing selection in last year’s series due to concussion issues, Ponga dominated the back end of the NRL season to claim the Dally M Medal.

He is back in the Maroons selection mix for the 2024 series and will be putting pressure on Broncos fullback Reece Walsh, who was strong in his debut campaign before missing Game Three due to suspension.

Ponga confirmed he was making himself available for Origin selection this year.

“I do want to put myself forward for Queensland this year,” he told Channel 9.

“Hopefully we can have another good season here (Newcastle) and I can play Origin.

“Playing at the highest level is always a goal of mine. I want to play in that arena for sure.

“You have to work hard to earn it, it’s not a given, and Reece Walsh definitely earned that jersey and played well in it.”

The Maroons will conduct community visits and a clinic on Saturday as well as discuss Slater’s footy strategy for the 2024 series, but they won’t be hitting the training paddock.

New Blues coach Michael Maguire will hold a similar camp this weekend ahead of his first series in charge of NSW.