Opinion: Kalyn Ponga is Maroons debutant under most pressure

BY PICKING 20-year-old Kalyn Ponga for the must-win Game 2 on Sunday, Queensland coach Kevin Walters is pretty much saying: “We’re in a big hole son. It’s up to you to get us out,” writes Mike Colman.

Kalyn Ponga arrives at Brisbane airport for Origin II. Photo: AAP

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A FEW years back I put together a list titled: ‘Maroon’s Biggest Shock Selections’. Alfie Langer was at number one, closely followed by Alfie Langer.

Top billing was Alfie’s fly-in fly-out from England for Game 3, 2001. Second was his debut in 1987 when the Sydney media thought someone was having a lend of them.

Alfie Langer inspires victory for the Maroons in 2001.

Others on that list included Ben Ikin, Adam Mogg and even Gorden Tallis who was a bench player when he was chosen for Game 2, 1994.

But none of those players would be at the top if I was writing another list today titled, ‘Maroon Under Most Pressure on Debut’.

Kalyn Ponga would have that spot all tied up.

By picking 20-year-old Ponga for the must-win Game 2 on Sunday, Kevin Walters is pretty much saying: “We’re in a big hole son. It’s up to you to get us out.”

Considering Ponga is in his first full season of top grade footy — and his side is in twelfth spot — it’s a fair ask. Unfair some might say.

Given that there is a big question mark over what position he will play when he comes on, it all adds to the weight he’ll be carrying on his shoulders.

If Billy Slater is passed fit to play, there seems little chance that Ponga will replace him off the bench in his favourite fullback spot, which means he will probably go on at five-eighth, or even somewhere in the forwards like hooker or lock.

And there will be no talk about easing into the role. Unless the match is well and truly won — or lost — he’ll be sent on as a game-breaker, the one to provide the moment of inspiration that keeps the series alive.

I hate the term ‘X-Factor’, mainly because I don’t know what it means but then again, if it could be defined, it wouldn’t exist.

It’s Wally Lewis rushing up and taking a tap to set up a try when the obvious choice is to kick for goal. It’s Alfie doing a little grubber — twice — and regathering to score; Kevvie chip-kicking on the first tackle; Billy turning Anthony Minichiello inside-out.

It’s the unexpected, the unfathomable, the unbelievable — and it takes a very special player to pull it off at Origin level.

Is Kalyn Ponga such a player? Cameron Smith obviously thinks so but we’ve heard much the same thing about others in recent years. Daly Cherry-Evans and Anthony Milford were both anointed as the latest wonder boys, and both failed to live up to the billing.

Now it’s Ponga’s turn. He can either join them, or start a list of his own.