Kalyn Ponga ruled out of State of Origin III after foot injury in Knights v Raiders clash

Star fullbacks Reece Walsh and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow have gone head-to-head in a Super Saturday shootout, as the race to replace Kalyn Ponga for Origin III heats up. Who will win? VOTE in our poll.

Fullback superstars Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Reece Walsh waged an epic Super Saturday shootout in the battle to replace injured Maroons star Kalyn Ponga for the State of Origin decider.

Ponga’s Origin series is over after he was diagnosed with a Lisfranc foot injury – putting Walsh and Tabuai-Fidow on a collision course for the Queensland No.1 jumper for Game Three in Sydney on Wednesday week.

The duo lodged Maroon auditions in a spectacular double header at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.

Walsh was slick in Brisbane’s 26-12 defeat of the Warriors, before Tabuai-Fidow ran riot with a magical four-try showing in the Dolphins’ 50-28 rout of Souths.

Maroons coach Billy Slater controversially axed skipper Daly Cherry-Evans for Origin II, a decision vindicated by Queensland’s 26-24 victory, and now he faces fresh selection conundrums for the decider.

Reece Walsh is the man most likely to replace Ponga. Picture: NRL Photos

Ponga’s scratching could see Walsh return at fullback, while the ‘Hammer’ is another option at No.1 if Slater is not convinced the Broncos superstar has made a full recovery from a knee injury.

This masthead understands Tabuai-Fidow has the edge after his Souths masterclass.

But Broncos skipper Adam Reynolds and Brisbane coach Michael Maguire, NSW’s series-winning mentor last year, are adamant Walsh won’t let Queensland down in Origin III.

“I’d love to see him in that arena,” said Reynolds, the former NSW Origin halfback.

“Reece belongs in that arena.

“He would certainly give the Blues a few headaches and things to think about.”

Maguire added: “Reece is ready, it’s whether or not they decide to go that way. I actually think Reece’s footy is getting better.”

But Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow is also an option for Queensland after his four-try outing against the Rabbitohss. Picture: Getty Images

Knights captain Ponga left the field with pain in his foot in the 60th minute of Newcastle’s narrow 22-18 loss to the Raiders at McDonald Jones Stadium on Friday night.

The Maroons fullback had scans after the injury and it revealed foot damage which could sideline Ponga for at least a month, crushing his hopes of lifting the Origin shield at Homebush.

Kalyn Ponga left the stadium in a moon boot after suffering a foot injury. Picture: Getty Images

The injury scare has thrust Walsh into consideration for a whirlwind Maroons comeback, just three games after returning from a knee injury he suffered against the Warriors in round 7.

Walsh concedes he is still not 100 per cent fit – he is playing with heavy strapping around his right knee – and that could be a factor when Slater and Maroons selectors finalise the Queensland team on Sunday night.

Kalyn Ponga has been ruled out of Origin 3 - is yet to get scan results back on his foot but Knights fear it’s a Lisfranc injury (via @badel_cmail)

If midfoot sprain confirmed a high grade injury would require surgery & 10+ weeks recovery - a more minor sprain is often 2-6 weeks pic.twitter.com/SQoPXc8WnL

— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) June 27, 2025

Tabuai-Fidow has been in sizzling form at fullback for the Dolphins and could move from the wing, where he played in Origin II, to replace Ponga in the Maroons backfield.

That scenario would open the door for Cowboys winger Murray Taulagi, who has played six games for the Maroons and can press his claims in Sunday’s clash against the Titans at Cbus Super Stadium.

Queensland’s forward pack is also far from locked in.

Despite a much-improved showing from the pack in Perth, there is a push for 23-game Origin warhorse Josh Papalii to return, three years after he announced his Maroons retirement in 2022.

Papalii has been in sensational form and there is a view he could add some aggression and intimidation in a move that could put prop Mo Fotuaika in the firing line.

Papalii was strong again in Canberra’s victory on Friday night, which powered the Green Machine to the top of the league, and Raiders coach Ricky Stuart backed calls for the Origin return of big ‘Papa’.

“I don’t have any intel on this, but if Billy gave Josh a call, I know he’s ready,’’ Stuart said.

“He’d be an asset for them.

“But whether Josh wants to focus on what he’s doing at club level, that’s a call for Josh.

“But as I said, I could see why Billy would look at him.’’

Queensland selector Darren Lockyer said Slater would be assessing the balance of his Origin III squad closely after the Maroons almost botched a 26-6 lead in Game Two.

“The coach will analyse the second half more than the first half,” Channel 9 analyst Lockyer said.

“I know Billy would have watched the game (Origin II) a few times already.

“He will study that second half and understand we weren’t exactly on our game … he will have learned about his players.”