Billy Slater is reportedly leaning towards naming neither Reece Walsh nor Kalyn Ponga at fullback for the Maroons. <\/p>\n
In a shock report on Sunday, the Queensland coach is rumoured to be leaning towards picking Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow at No. 1, with Walsh off the bench and Ponga in the No. 7 jersey.<\/p>\n
According to Code Sports<\/a>, Ponga is in line to be named at halfback when the squads are confirmed on Monday.<\/p>\n That is despite the fact the Knights captain has never worn the No. 7 in his 150-game career. But he is believed to be set to partner Cameron Munster in the halves,<\/p>\n Ponga has played eight of his 10 Origin games at fullback, with his other two appearances being off the bench as an impact substitution.<\/p>\n The decision to pick Ponga at halfback has the backing of Queensland legend Cooper Cronk, who had called for the Maroons to deploy Munster and Ponga in the halves earlier this week.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think you can go back (to Cherry-Evans),\u201d Cronk told Code.<\/p>\n \u201cI am not part of the (Queensland) selectors or anything like that, but I would be seriously considering Munster at seven, Kalyn Ponga at six and Reece Walsh at No.1.<\/p>\n \u201cKalyn Ponga has played very well for Queensland every time he has played. He has been physical, he gets it.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a bit wild, but those two guys (Munster and Ponga) are rock solid for Queensland. It\u2019s a threat \u2026 I feel like that is the best mix for Queensland.\u201d<\/p>\n Yet dual premiership winner James Maloney said on news.com.au\u2019s Extended Bench <\/a>playing Ponga at No. 7 would be a baffling decision.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy would you play someone who is so dynamic in the defensive line where a side can take so much of that away from him,\u201d Maloney said on news.com.au\u2019s Extended Bench<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThat doesn\u2019t make any sense at all.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n