NRL 2023: How Kalyn Ponga has solved Queensland Maroons biggest Origin headache

Kalyn Ponga hasn’t just knocked on the selection room door. He’s blown it off its hinges and solved the Maroons biggest selection headache ahead of Origin Game I, writes ROBERT CRADDOCK.

Kalyn Ponga has done enough to ensure he be given the chance to resume his State of Origin career. Picture: Getty Images.

Kalyn Ponga has knocked the selection room door off its hinges to ensure he must be given the chance to resume his State of Origin career.

Only injury – most particularly the concussions which plague him – in next week’s match against the Sharks should stop the Maroons fullback from regaining the Origin jersey he excelled in last season.

Queensland State of Origin jigsaw is almost in place with enigmatic David Fifita shining for the Titans in their loss to Ponga’s Knights to edge closer to a recall for the May 31 Origin opener in Adelaide.

Ponga played one of his finest games for Newcastle with an attacking display of rare class, setting up two tries and scoring one of his own in a rousing 46-26 victory.

Kalyn Ponga has done enough to ensure he be given the chance to resume his State of Origin career. Picture: Getty Images.

Ponga declined to join his teammates on a Bali holiday during the Knights bye over Magic Round, instead opting to stay and fine tune his game after a miserable effort in his last game against Parramatta.

The whispers out of Newcastle were that he had been training the house down and so it proved as he played like a man not simply with a clear head, but bristling with the confidence of old.

In the first half he floated across field like a butterfly before threading a gap in the defence for a brilliantly weighted grubber which was scooped up by Tyson Frizell who crashed over.

In the second half he slipped inside Tanah Boyd after a deft dummy to set up another try and perfected the same trick soon after as he hared down field and wrong footed fullback Jayden Campbell.

Ponga reportedly impressed at training during the Knights bye round and starred against the Titans, ending the game with a try and two try assists. Picture: Getty Images.

And there was one last play which surely would have caught the eye of Maroons coach Billy Slater who celebrates players who go the extra yard.

When Fifita ran 90m to score a late try Ponga flashed across from no man’s land to tumble across the line with him, a sign of a man committed to the unsung efforts that often win Origin games.

The two man shootout between the Broncos Reece Walsh and Ponga has gone down to the wire due to Ponga’s concussion issues.

But unless he falls apart physically in his next match Ponga looks over the line.

“Kalyn Ponga was the difference today,’’ Michael Ennis said on Fox League.

“Boy, what a response after a disappointing performance heading into the bye against Parramatta. He was outstanding today.’’

Ponga said he was proud of his performance.

David Fifita may have also done enough to earn an Origin recall, scoring two tries, including a length of the field sprint. Picture: Getty Images.

“I was really disappointed with my performance in the Parramatta game,’’ Ponga told Fox League after the game.

“I wanted to get myself out of it through hard work so I was proud of myself today. I just concentrated on being free and taking opportunities.’’

The debate over Ponga’s long standing concussion issues is never closed.

Queensland selectors had been nervous about choosing Ponga for understandable reasons but few players have the class to find space in Origin games – particularly the series openers which are notoriously tight – but Ponga is one of them.

Originally published as NRL 2023: How Kalyn Ponga has solved Queensland Maroons biggest Origin headache