State of Origin: NSW Blues to attack Kalyn Ponga and Reece Walsh in Suncorp decider

There’s no question that Queensland’s attack will benefit when Reece Walsh and Kalyn Ponga are deployed together in Origin III - but NSW believe they can turn the duo into a liability.

(L-R) Reece Walsh and Kalyn Ponga are lethal in attack but can they defend in the middle? Picture: Getty Images

NSW captain Jake Trbojevic has declared the Blues are ready to turn one of Queensland’s greatest strengths into a point of weakness as they prepare to exploit the twin attacking threats Reece Walsh and Kalyn Ponga in the State of Origin decider on Wednesday night.

Trbojevic, who has the chance to end years of heartache at Suncorp Stadium with a victory in Origin III, concedes NSW are on high alert over the prospect of Ponga being injected into the fray off the bench at some point on Wednesday night.

However, he believes the Blues can take advantage of Ponga’s potential presence in the middle of the field to go on the attack.

“Well, obviously we want to get ourselves right before we worry too much about them,” Trbojevic said.

(L-R) Reece Walsh and Kalyn Ponga are lethal in attack but can they defend in the middle? Picture: Getty Images

“But yeah, obviously when he’s going to be on (with) Reece Walsh, it’s going to be attacking dominant you think the way they are going to play.

“We’re definitely going to have to be on high alert, we’re going to have to be really good with our defensive line and respond to Dyl (Dylan Edwards) at the back with the way we get our number and that sort of thing.

“It’s going to be a good challenge for us, it’s going to be tough. It’s definitely something different.

“They’ve got both great players in their own right - imagine one of them on one side and one on the other. There’s great threats across the field.

Jake Trbojevic (R) says the Blues middles can target Reece Walsh and Kalyn Ponga. Picture: Rohan Kelly

“It’s definitely going to be a great challenge but it is exciting for us and I guess when you have them both out there one of them is going to end up in the middle at some point.

“So that might work in our favour, you know what I mean? Like, you can look at it both ways.”

Ponga missed the opening two games of the series through injury while Walsh has had little impact on Origin after being knocked out in game one and silenced at the MCG.

The Blues haven’t been lulled into a false sense of security.

“He is massive,” Trbojevic said.

“Any time he plays he is a threat. He’s just a great player. You can do something from nothing. Look at the grand final last year. Look at the try he scored against Penrith.

“He can do things from nothing. He’s a great player. We’ve done our homework. We will work really hard on that. But first and foremost we have to get ourselves right.”