Reece Walsh and Kalyn Ponga at Queensland Maroons training ahead of State of Origin Game 3 against NSW Blues at Suncorp Stadium.Reece Walsh and Kalyn Ponga at Queensland Maroons training ahead of State of Origin Game 3 against NSW Blues at Suncorp Stadium.. But the moment Billy Slater named fullback Kalyn Ponga on his bench for the series decider in Brisbane, one largely forgotten rugby league experiment took on new significance.
As soon as the Knights’ No 1 proved his fitness against Canberra last weekend, Slater included him in the Maroons lineup, even though Reece Walsh was already established at fullback. “He’s a different player now, and he’s got great defence,” Slater said. “He understands the game a lot better now, he was still a kid back then.”