Billy Slater is reportedly leaning towards naming neither Reece Walsh nor Kalyn Ponga at fullback for the Maroons.
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.
According to Code Sports, Ponga is in line to be named at halfback when the squads are confirmed on Monday.
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,
Ponga has played eight of his 10 Origin games at fullback, with his other two appearances being off the bench as an impact substitution.
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.
“I don’t think you can go back (to Cherry-Evans),” Cronk told Code.
“I 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.
“Kalyn Ponga has played very well for Queensland every time he has played. He has been physical, he gets it.
“It’s a bit wild, but those two guys (Munster and Ponga) are rock solid for Queensland. It’s a threat … I feel like that is the best mix for Queensland.”
Yet dual premiership winner James Maloney said on news.com.au’s Extended Bench playing Ponga at No. 7 would be a baffling decision.
“Why would you play someone who is so dynamic in the defensive line where a side can take so much of that away from him,” Maloney said on news.com.au’s Extended Bench.
“That doesn’t make any sense at all.”
Code reports that while the fullback position hasn’t been 100 per cent decided, that ‘The Hammer’ has “his nose in front”, with Walsh included on the extended bench.
The Broncos star hasn’t been able to recapture the form that saw him take Brisbane to grand final glory in 2026, but it was largely believed it was a race between him and Ponga.
However, with Tabuai-Fidow starring in the No. 1 for the Dolphins and ripping the Blues apart at fullback when Walsh was knocked out by Joseph Suaalii back in the 2024 Origin series, Slater is reportedly considering giving him first crack at fullback in 2026.
Both the NSW and Queensland squads will be officially announced on Monday morning.
