Queensland selector’s Ponga v Walsh bombshell

Queensland selector Darren Lockyer has given the strongest hint yet that young gun Reece Walsh will pip superstar Kalyn Ponga to the Maroons’ No.1 jersey and that Ponga could miss out on the 17 for game one altogether.

Lockyer spoke plainly about the choice to be made between the two exciting fullbacks, admitting that Ponga’s moved to five-eighth for the Knights could cost him his place in the side.

Speaking on Wide World of Sports’ QLDER Lockyer was careful with his words and kept the door open for both players to make the game day squad but said an emphasis on versatility would likely lead to a Harry Grant/Ben Hunt combination, which would prevent a player like Walsh or Ponga from starting on the bench.

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That could result in the man of the match from last year’s decider and one of the NRL’s biggest names being axed from the side.

”What works against Kalyn is he’s not playing at fullback,” Lockyer said.

“Now he could go back to fullback and play it but it’s a specialised position – and Kalyn hasn’t forgotten how to play there – but if he’s not on a weekly basis playing and moving with those habits as a fullback, then that works against Kalyn.

“Reece, there’s some good tests in front of him over the next few weeks with some of the opposition the Broncos have got so I think the coach (Billy Slater) and the selectors will be watching closely some of those players who are in contention in big games.”

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Lockyer’s comments are pertinent not only because of his role as a selector but also as a great of the game who made the same positional switch as Ponga.

Having played his first six years of representative football at fullback, Lockyer famously made the switch to five-eighth for the Broncos as a 27-year-old in 2004 and made an almost seamless transition. He was picked as the Queensland five-eighth and captain that year and never looked back, completing his career in the No.6 jersey.

Lockyer knows better than anyone the challenges of the positional switch and the different habits that are built at training every week once the switch is made.

His comments suggest that if it comes down to a 50/50 call, he’ll vote for the player who is starring at fullback every week over the star who doesn’t play there anymore.

The significant complication is that Ponga’s starting to build an outstanding resume at Origin level and the selectors know how he performs on the big stage.

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“Don’t discount what Ponga’s done in the Queensland jersey,” Lockyer said. “I know Billy really rates him, so don’t discount that.”

Yet if Ponga’s past isn’t enough to keep him in the No.1 jersey he looks set to be dropped completely. Cameron Munster is arguably Queensland’s best player and is a lock to wear the No.6 jersey and it seems unlikely that Ponga would be picked at wing or centre.

That leaves a bench role, which will more likely go to whoever doesn’t start at hooker out of star No.9 Harry Grant and utility Ben Hunt.

“I think the 14 role these days, as we’ve seen in history, you need to be versatile,” Lockyer said.

“Both those players (Ponga and Walsh) can play multiple positions but at that level I guess it remains to be seen.

“We talk about Ben Hunt, his versatility, you could play him anywhere on the field really. AJ Brimson, he’s another guy who, while he plays fullback, could easily play anywhere in the backline.”

Complicating matters further for Ponga is he’s only just returned from his latest period on the sidelines due to concussion. He made a low-key return off the bench in last week’s narrow loss to the Cowboys and has just three games back in the starting team to prove that he’s Origin ready before the selectors name their team for game one.

He’ll line up in the No.6 jersey on Friday night as the Knights clash with the Eels. They have the bye for Magic Round, then play the Titans and Sharks, with the Cronulla game to be played the day before the selectors gather to finalise their team on Sunday May 21.

There could be a massive story developing.

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