State of Origin 2024: Wayne Bennett fears Kalyn Ponga’s selection could hurt Maroons

Former Queensland coach Wayne Bennett has warned Billy Slater to be careful with how he uses Dally M superstar Kalyn Ponga in next week’s Origin decider.

Wayne Bennett (main) has expressed his concerns over Queensland's inclusion of Kalyn Ponga (inset) for Origin III.

Wayne Bennett has warned Maroons coach Billy Slater that Kalyn Ponga’s Origin decider selection could make or break Queensland’s quest for a three-peat of titles.

Ponga will pull on a Maroons jersey for the first time in two years in Wednesday’s series finale at Suncorp Stadium.

The reigning Dally M Medal champion was man-of-the-match in his last Origin appearance after leading Queensland to a famous series win in the 2022 decider in Brisbane.

That match was Ponga’s finest effort in seven games for Queensland, but he missed the entire 2023 series as he confronted concussion problems which threatened to end his career.

Ponga, 26, sat out the first two matches of this year’s series due to a foot injury and has only played one NRL game for Newcastle in close to three months.

He will come off the bench for Queensland next week and Bennett, who coached the Maroons to five series wins across three different stints, said Slater must tread carefully with his interchange weapon.

Kalyn Ponga was man-of-the-match in the 2022 decider.

“He is a wonderful player but he’s had one game in three months and they’re talking about playing him in the middle or something like that,” Bennett said.

“That’s high risk. Origin is about risk and it can turn out to be a great move or turn out to hurt you.”

Ponga will spend the week in Camp Maroon training in various positions throughout the backline and in the middle.

The Maroons lost fullback Reece Walsh (concussion) early in Game One while centre Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (shoulder) left the field in the first half of the MCG massacre.

How Ponga gets into the game remains to be seen and hooker Ben Hunt said Ponga’s performance in his 2018 debut from the bench in Sydney proved how dangerous he can be in the Origin arena.

Wayne Bennett says Queensland must be careful with how they use Ponga. Picture: Getty Images

“It is definitely exciting to have ‘KP’ back,” he said.

“He is an exceptional player and a really good guy to have around camp as well.

“It is something I am really excited about wherever he plays. I am not too sure what Billy’s plan is but I remember his debut (in 2018) when he played in the middle and was probably one of our best players that day.”

The Maroons were mauled in a 34-0 first half demolition by the Blues in Melbourne and have lacked mongrel in the middle in the absence of injured enforcers Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Tom Flegler and Tom Gilbert.

Despite being undermanned, Bennett said Queensland would lift in front of a sold-out crowd at home.

“Those three guys are top players in the game so obviously there’s an issue there but I think they’ve handled it well,” he said.

“They’ll be wearing Queensland jerseys and playing at Suncorp Stadium so they will lift and play well above themselves.

“I’ve got no doubt about that. The greatest advantage Queensland has got is Suncorp. The one thing you know is that crowd will be behind that team and it makes such a difference.

“You’re probably playing with 14 guys on the field because the crowd gets engaged and keeps the players highly motivated.

“The stats tell you how dominant we’ve been in the last game here in deciders (11 wins from 13 games).”

Originally published as State of Origin 2024: Wayne Bennett fears Kalyn Ponga’s selection could hurt Maroons