3 minute read

Billy Slater has backed Kalyn Ponga’s Origin credentials and is open to pairing him with Reece Walsh.

Billy Slater says Kalyn Ponga remains firmly in the mix for Queensland selection despite switching his international allegiance to New Zealand, with the Maroons coach confident the fullback's commitment to State of Origin is unchanged.

Recent rule changes allow players to represent a Tier 1 nation such as New Zealand and still be eligible for State of Origin, provided they meet the established criteria. That has cleared the way for Ponga to feature this year, even after stepping away from Australian representative duties.

Slater faces a selection dilemma at fullback, with Reece Walsh also in contention following a strong finish to last season that included a premiership with the Brisbane Broncos and an international debut. Ponga, meanwhile, has started the past two Origin series at No.1 when fit.

Both players are currently sidelined through injury but are expected to be available for the series opener. If fit, Slater indicated he is open to including both in the same squad, with one at fullback and the other potentially utilised from the interchange bench.

Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, who featured prominently in last year's decider, is also part of the equation and could shift to the centres or wing to accommodate the combination.

Slater dismissed concerns around Ponga's eligibility, pointing to the player's Origin record and long-standing ties to Queensland. He also referenced Tino Fa'asuamaleaui as another example of a player representing a different nation internationally while maintaining strong state allegiance.

The coach suggested that Origin selection ultimately rests on a player's connection to Queensland and their commitment to the jersey, rather than international alignment.

With several key positions still to be finalised, Queensland's backline makeup remains one of the major talking points ahead of the series opener.