State of Origin 2024: QLD Maroons legends urge Billy Slater to pick Kalyn Ponga, drop Reece Walsh

Maroons legends have backed Kalyn Ponga to be the match winner for Queensland in Origin III, calling on Billy Slater to pick him. Even if it means dropping Reece Walsh.

He was the man who famously inspired Queensland’s epic series victory at Suncorp Stadium two years ago.

Now Kalyn Ponga is ready to rescue the Maroons again.

Former Queensland stars have urged Maroons coach Billy Slater to recall Newcastle champion Ponga to bring down the Blues in Wednesday week’s Origin decider at Suncorp Stadium.

After 10 weeks out with a foot injury, Ponga has been named to return for the Knights against Canberra on Sunday – the very day Maroons selectors meet to pick the Queensland team for Origin III.

Slater is under pressure to make changes following Queensland’s dismal 38-18 loss in Origin II and Dally M superstar Ponga, originally expected to miss the whole series, is suddenly an enticing option.

Ponga can submit an irresistible case by carving up Canberra at GIO Stadium and ex-Queensland forwards Scott Sattler and Corey Parker believes the Knights skipper has to wear Maroon in the Suncorp decider on July 17.

Kalyn Ponga vs Reece Walsh.

“Kalyn Ponga has to be there for Origin III – I would be picking him,” said former Maroons and Penrith premiership lock Sattler.

“At worst he has to be on the bench to give Queensland some X-factor.

“He has been chosen for Newcastle this week and I know he hasn’t played for a while, but Kalyn isn’t an Origin rookie.

“I had picked Kalyn as my 14 (bench utility) for Game One before he got injured.

“I’m sure Billy would be having that discussion now and if he gets through Sunday, Ponga has to be in the team.

“If he’s on the bench, it will instil some fear in the Blues. When their lungs are burning later in the game and you see Kalyn on the sideline with an interchange card in his hand … that’s a frightening prospect for the Blues.”

Cameron Munster, Kalyn Ponga and Felise Kaufusi celebrate after claiming victory in Game 1 of the 2022 State of Origin series. Picture: Getty Images

If anyone will have vivid memories of Ponga’s most recent game for Queensland, it is Slater.

The fullback sensation ripped NSW apart in the Origin III decider in 2022. He charged for 247 metres from 25 runs, while posting a staggering 15 tackle busts, two line breaks and scoring a try to engineer the Maroons’ 22-12 defeat of the Blues at Suncorp Stadium.

Ponga walked away with man-of-the-match honours, but did not appear in last year’s Origin series due to the concussion battle that put his entire NRL career in jeopardy.

Upon his return for Newcastle, ‘KP’ embarked on a lethal form burst that won him the Dally M Medal and the 26-year-old has the game-breaking brilliance to bury the Blues once again in a Suncorp decider.

Former Queensland lock Parker, a veteran of 19 Origin matches, says Slater should consider picking Ponga ahead of Reece Walsh at fullback after the Broncos superstar’s off night in Game Two at the MCG.

“If Kalyn Ponga has a blinder on Sunday against Canberra, there has to be some serious conversations with the Queensland selectors about putting him back in the team somewhere,” Parker said.

Corey Parker says Billy Slater should pick Kalyn Ponga over Reece Walsh, or at the very least, hand him a spot on the bench. Picture: Getty Images

“Does Queensland start him at fullback, or could he be that super sub off the bench?

“The reality is Reece got heavily knocked out in Origin I and he hasn’t played a lot of football since. It was a tough night for him in Origin II.

“Reece Walsh is a wonderful talent but he doesn’t own the Queensland No.1 jumper. Billy Slater owned it for a long time but Reece hasn’t been around long enough to have a mortgage on the fullback spot.

“If Walsh has a good game against the Panthers, well that would basically seal his spot, but if he has another flat performance, the door has to be open for Kalyn.

“If KP puts a good game together on Sunday, there has to be some internal conversations.

“I don’t know if Billy will go that way, but he has to think about it.

“I suspect there are going to be a lot of points in this decider and Kalyn got man-of-the-match in the decider two years ago.

“Whether he is one or 14, I’m not sure, but I just think Kalyn Ponga can win the game for Queensland.”