Queensland Origin coach Billy Slater reveals fullback plans following Kalyn Ponga’s switch

Kalyn Ponga is at the centre of the off-season’s most significant positional switch, but what will his five-eighth move mean for Queensland’s fullback spot?

Kalyn Ponga and Queensland coach Billy Slater.

Queensland coach Billy Slater has backed Kalyn Ponga’s move to five-eighth and given every indication it won’t impact on his State of Origin hopes, declaring: “I am pretty sure he won’t forget how to play fullback in six months.”

Ponga is at the centre of the off-season’s most significant positional switch, having handed the No.1 jersey to Lachie Miller as he attempts to make a home at five-eighth.

The success or failure of the move is likely to dictate the Knights’ season given how important Ponga is to the side and the ripple effect could extend to Origin given Ponga starred at fullback for Queensland in the final game of last year’s series, winning man of the match honours.

Kalyn Ponga and Maroons coach Billy Slater. Picture: AAP Image/Glenn Hunt

Slater played alongside two handy players who began their careers at fullback before pulling on the No.6 jersey – Darren Lockyer and Cameron Munster. He can see comparisons between the pair and Ponga as the Newcastle and Maroons star begins his second coming in the halves.

“The really good players can do it,” Slater said.

“Kalyn is no different to those two. He can make a really successful switch. The one thing that Locky, Munster and Kalyn all have is they have a great skill set to do it.

“They all have super footy minds. They understand the game really well. They’re all really physical. They’re all willing to put their body on the line.”

That bravery came at a cost for Ponga last year as his season came to a premature end due to head knocks. That didn’t stop him pushing for a move to the halves – it is understood Ponga has been one of the driving forces behind the shift as he looks to take more control of the Knights attack and lift the club out of the quagmire it finds itself in.

There is risk attached. If it doesn’t work and Ponga struggles with his form, his Queensland jersey could be collateral damage.

Smart judges don’t expect that to happen. With Jackson Hastings taking care of the playmaking responsibilities, Ponga can pick and choose his moments to get his hands on the ball.

Crucially, the position isn’t foreign to him. Ponga played a handful of games across the 2018 and 2019 seasons at five-eighth under Nathan Brown before the experiment was abandoned and he returned him to fullback.

When Adam O’Brien arrived at the end of the 2019 season, one of the first things did was pledge to keep Ponga in the No.1 jersey.

Times have now changed as O’Brien attempts to turn around their fortunes. Origin will no doubt be the last thing on the Knights’ mind but it will be at the forefront of Slater’s as he watches Ponga’s season unfold.

“The better your performances the more credit you get,” Slater said.

“But I am a believer that you have to earn your jersey. You might have some credit in the bank but you still have to perform at the start of the year for your state to have confidence in you.

“I thought Kalyn was one of our best players last year. He had a big smile on his face, he was enjoying his footy. He was a really important part of the squad that started to build last year.

“Put it this way, I don’t reckon he will forget how to play fullback in six months.”

Originally published as Queensland Origin coach Billy Slater reveals fullback plans following Kalyn Ponga’s switch