State of Origin tracker: Shocking tackling statistic could decide Ponga-Walsh fullback battle

It’s the ugly statistic that could very well cost Kalyn Ponga his Queensland State of Origin jersey. Dive into the Maroons’ biggest selection call since Billy Slater was dropped six years ago.

Jeremiah Nanai of the Cowboys is sent to the sin bin.

Kalyn Ponga’s State of Origin future is under siege but two former greats still believe he has time to save his Queensland jersey.

Ponga’s concussion issues and his defensive “Knightmare’’ for Newcastle in their 31 point loss to the Eels has left Broncos custodian Reece Walsh close to snaring a spot which seemed under lock and key when Ponga was man of the match in Queensland’s epic victory in last year’s decider.

Former Queensland war horses Brent Tate and Billy Moore both acknowledge the complexities of one of the tightest selections calls of recent times but feel Ponga’s cause is not lost for the May 31 opener in Adelaide.

Rugby league website NRL.com.au had Ponga missing 10 tackles against the Eels and while Fox Sports had only half as many, even that number was a cause for concern that Ponga was still well short of his best in his second game back from a trip to Canada for a series of clinical tests on his long standing concussion issues.

“KP did the job last year and was amazing and that was the first time I had seen him really stand up in that arena but it does depend on how he plays over the next few weeks,’’ Tait said of Ponga, playing five-eighth for the Knights.

Kalyn Ponga missed 10 tackles against the Eels. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty

“Walsh is making a very heavy case. It is hard to ignore him. KP is a very cool, calm, collected customer but this would have to put the wind up you.

“I don’t care how cool you are there would have to be some trepidation about how you are coming back.

“If Kalyn can prove he is back and is throwing himself into heavy collisions I think he will get the nod. I saw the stats about 10 missed tackles the other night and that was a sign to me that there was some head noise there and things he needs to overcome.

“If Kalyn is not quite where he needs to be it then Queensland would be comfortable selecting Walsh.’’

Moore expected both players could be part of the Queensland set-up for the next decade but whoever misses out would also miss this squad of 17.

“Can you take them both?’’ Moore said.

“I don’t believe you can because you have Harry Grant and Ben Hunt and one of those will come off the bench so I don’t think you can carry two small bodies (on the bench).’’

“It is a great sign of the strength of Queensland rugby league to have two superstars vying for the one position.

“They will go with Ponga if he can show he is back to his best in the next two weeks. He was out for so long that he needs game time and to get his boots back under the table.

“Reece has been playing great but may have to bide his time. Kalyn has been there before and has that combination with Daly Cherry-Evans and Cam Munster. Reece right now is on a learning curve and could be a year away.’’

NANAI FACES ORIGIN WIPE-OUT

- Peter Badel

ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys has vowed to eliminate hip-drop tackles as North Queensland young gun Jeremiah Nanai faces a suspension that could wipe him out of Origin I.

In another blow for Queensland, Nanai is in danger of being rubbed out the Origin series opener on May 31 after being charged with a grade-three hip-drop tackle in the Cowboys’ heavy 44-6 loss to Cronulla on Thursday night.

The Cowboys will decide over the weekend whether to fight the charge. Nanai will be banned for five matches if he loses at the NRL judiciary, while the Cowboys and Maroons back-rower will miss four games with an early guilty plea.

SPECIAL: WHO MISSES OUT? QUEENSLAND’S TOUGHEST ORIGIN CALLS

Jeremiah Nanai facing 4 week suspension for this tackle, which would make him unavailable for selection for State of Origin opener. pic.twitter.com/UfeXAlJJPn

— Adam Jackson (@AdamJackson_9) April 28, 2023

The latter scenario would see Nanai ruled out of Origin I in another setback for Maroons coach Billy Slater, who is already without veteran winger Corey Oates (knee) for the series opener against NSW at Adelaide Oval.

While the Cowboys have been in dismal form, Nanai is a Maroons incumbent, playing all three games last season after making his Queensland Origin debut in the 2022 series opener in Sydney.

Jeremiah Nanai of the Cowboys is sent to the sin bin after a hip-drop tackle on Braden Hamlin-Uele.

Nanai’s tackle on Cronulla prop Braden Hamlin-Uele may cost him an Origin jumper, but ARLC chairman V’landys is making no apologies, declaring the NRL will press ahead in their determination to stamp out the hip drop.

“At the moment, this hip-drop tackle has crept into the game and we need to eradicate it,” V’landys said.

“Last night’s one (Nanai’s hip drop on Hamlin-Uele) was a pretty clear-cut one.

“There’s no crackdown as such, but it’s simple — don’t do the hip drop and there won’t be a penalty or a suspension.

“We will always look after the welfare of the player, no matter if it’s a hip drop, headhigh tackle or cannonball.

“You name it, we will protect against it.”

The NRL has witnessed a spate of sin-binnings, reports and suspensions for the hip-drop tackle over the past 12 months and there is widespread confusion over what constitutes a hip-drop indiscretion.

Nanai faces missing the first State of Origin match.

V’landys says the ARL Commission is determined to provide clarity to eliminate the confusion.

“The referees are doing a wonderful job under difficult circumstances,” he said.

“The problem we have at the moment is for fans to try and understand what the tackle is.

“And that’s why we have put up on the NRL’s official website a video library of hip-drop tackles so they know exactly what the referees are looking for.

“It wasn’t so clear, so the Commission has said they want clarity on it.

“We are 100 per cent behind eradicating it, but the fans have to understand the hip-drop tackle as well to go on the journey with us.

“I must stress player welfare will always come first.”

Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett says it’s time the penny dropped for NRL players to stop risking a hip-drop tackle.

“They tell me there was another one (the Nanai tackle),” Bennett said.

“The amount of publicity about them, the amount of guys getting suspensions and you still have that in your head to make that tackle … I don’t understand it.

“It’s pretty disappointing when we know the scrutiny that is on them.

“I don’t believe any coach is coaching it, it is just something the player is getting in his head.”

Originally published as State of Origin tracker: Shocking tackling statistic could decide Ponga-Walsh fullback battle