State of Origin 2018: Kalyn Ponga’s chances of making his Queensland debut rising like his star
ON Sunday afternoon, Newcastle take on Melbourne and Queensland Origin selectors get a glimpse into the future when Kalyn Ponga demonstrates yet again that he is the brightest prospect in rugby league.
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KAYLN Ponga’s plane ticket to Origin II was booked two months ago.
A phone conversation between Newcastle coach Nathan Brown and Queensland coach Kevin Walters was made just four weeks into Ponga’s stunning breakout 2018 season, The Sunday Telegraph has learned.
The idea of sending Ponga, 20, into Queensland Origin camp during the NRL representative round to watch the game’s greatest fullback Billy Slater train, was a no-brainer for Brown.
The idea of Slater, passing on his state secrets over a week-long camp to his heir-apparent Ponga, made for a simple reply from Walters.
Yet suddenly, it’s Slater that could be left watching Ponga from afar.
So long as he answers yet another challenge tossed his way, against heavyweights Melbourne on Sunday afternoon in Newcastle, Ponga will be selected in the Maroons extended squad for Origin II next Sunday night, as cover for the mercurial yet hamstrung, Slater.
Also aiding Ponga’s chances is a bicep injury to Cowboys and Maroons Origin I fullback Michael Morgan.
Slater is out of the match in the Hunter on Sunday afternoon with the same ongoing hamstring injury that robbed him of a last-ever MCG Origin appearance in game one against NSW.
The 34-year-old’s soreness is on the improve, increasing his running-load and power.
But in an already shorter-than-normal preparation ahead of Origin II, just how long Walters is willing to give the Maroons champion this week to prove he’s fit and without risk, will prove telling.
“I only see it as a win-win for our club,’’ Brown told The Sunday Telegraph.
“If Billy is fit for Origin II, Kayln has an incredible opportunity to learn from the best,’’ Brown said.
“But if Billy isn’t right, Kayln could get a chance to play and that would be so special for him and our club.’’
What’s certain is that Slater’s passing of the Maroons fullback baton to Ponga is inevitable.
Ponga was always destined for sporting stardom.
In 2014, he was tagged the most talented 15-year-old athlete in Australia, chased by six professional clubs across four different sports.
Ponga said no to offers from AFL’s Brisbane Lions, Super Rugby’s Queensland Reds, the Brisbane Broncos, Sydney Roosters, Melbourne Storm and even ignored a lucrative golf career after winning the New Zealand under-13 championship title.
Yet it was with the maturity that Knights fans have witness this year, that Ponga eventually chose the North Queensland Cowboys as moving to Townsville was best for his family.
State of Origin elected Slater to a platform where he has become one of the most recognisable faces in Australian sport, evident by rich deals with national brands including Powerade, Suzuki Australia and Adidas.
14-years later, Ponga is already eating into the commercial world of rugby league, with Rebel Sports purchasing the right to sell the Knights star’s own popular headgear.
Amid the mass of opinion and debate over Ponga’s readiness, the one person who can relate to the hype, is Slater.
Slater was 20 when famously, he chipped-kicked for himself to score a try for Queensland in Origin II, 2004.
It’s the play that prompted “Billy the Kid” wannabes to sprint-and-swerve in backyards across the country.
Even Blues fans felt obliged to applaud.
Ponga is the same age as Slater was then, proving after just 23 NRL matches, he too boasts the magic of the long-serving Storm ace.
Statistically, it could be argued that Ponga is in fact, a more brilliant player than Slater, after the same 23 games.
While Slater had scored 19 tries in 23 games, according to Fox Sports Stats, Ponga has scored more points.
Renowned for his blistering kick-returns at a young age, Slater averaged 125-metres per game during those first 23 matches.
Ponga is averaging 10-metres less.
What Queensland lacked in Origin I was an attacking threat, a game-breaker; evident in their two tries resulting from an intercept and a kick.
In attack, Ponga blows a young Slater out of the park — a frightening prospect for NSW.
After 23 games — which includes nine games for North Queensland in 2016-17 and 14 so far for the Knights — Ponga has produced 114 tackle busts, 21 line-break assists and 13 try assists.
Over the same period, Slater managed 63 tackle busts, one line break assist and two try assists.
Even the acclaim for Ponga is similar to that of Slater.
Just this week, Knights teammate and former Queensland Origin forward Jacob Lillyman was asked for an honest assessment of Ponga’s potential impact on rugby league.
“Just to be able play with him and see first hand what all the fuss was about is pretty special,’’ Lillyman said.
“He’s on the cusp there of getting selected (for Origin) so hopefully they can find a spot for him this series because he’ll certainly give them some headaches if he makes it on the field.
“He’s just one of those players who at the end of your career you can sit back and say ‘yeah, I played with him.’”
The apprentice has a ticket to Origin II.
Where he’s watching from, depends on The Master’s hamstring.