Queensland coach Billy Slater insists he has no issues picking Kalyn Ponga in State of Origin this year despite the fact he’s switched his international allegiance from Australia to New Zealand. And Slater is open to the idea of picking Ponga and Reece Walsh in the same team.
Slater has a tricky call to make in regards to who wears the No.1 for the Maroons this year. Walsh emerged as the hottest fullback in the game at the end of last year, winning the NRL premiership with the Broncos and making his Kangaroos debut in the Ashes.
Billy Slater has some big decisions to make for State of Origin this year. Image: Getty
It came after he missed Origin completely in 2025, with Ponga wearing the No.1 in the first two games and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow replacing an injured Ponga in the decider. Slater went with ‘The Hammer’ over Walsh in Game 3, with Walsh the 18th man.
Walsh (cheekbone) and Ponga (hamstring) are both currently sidelined, but should be back in time for Origin 1. If all three are available, Slater will likely play Tabuai-Fidow at centre or wing and one of Walsh or Ponga at fullback, with the other on the new six-man bench.
Billy Slater (R) has the option of picking both Reece Walsh (L) and Kalyn Ponga in his Queensland team.
(Getty Images)
Speaking to The Courier Mail on Monday, Slater said he has no qualms picking Ponga. The fullback was recently granted permission to switch his Test allegiance from Australia to NZ, but is still eligible for Origin due to a change in the rules for this year.
Jahrome Hughes made some interesting comments recently that he won’t put his hand up for Queensland – despite the fact he’s now eligible – because he doesn’t have the passion to play Origin and considers himself a Kiwi. But Slater doesn’t think it’ll be the same for Ponga – who’s played 10 Origin games to date – or people like Tino Fa’asuamaleaui who represents Samoa.
“I know Kalyn well. I know Tino extremely well,” Slater said. “The one thing they don’t need to do is prove the Queenslander in them to me. They don’t need to prove to me that they are passionate and all in for Queensland.
“As long as that passion is still there for the state they are representing and that comes from deep within from way before they play in the NRL, I think it still holds its integrity. It doesn’t worry me at all.”
Could Billy Slater pick Reece Walsh and Kalyn Ponga?
With the new six-man bench to be used in Origin this year, Slater said there’s a fair chance he’ll pick both Ponga and Walsh in his 19. “The six-man bench gives you a bit more flexibility with who you bring in, but you still have to be conscious of what you are covering,” he admitted.
With incumbent Maroons winger Valentine Holmes in poor form for the Dragons, the could be a world in which Ponga plays wing and Walsh fullback.
On Channel 9 on Sunday, Slater said he doesn’t think NSW should be allowed to use Panthers forward Moses Leota, who misses the age criteria by just four months. Players have to be in Australia before they turn 13 to be eligible for Origin, but Leota arrived from NZ at 13 and four months.