LIVE: Ponga never considered despite Walsh ban

Billy Slater said Kalyn Ponga was ne'er successful contention to regenerate the suspended Reece Walsh for State of Origin III.

Ponga pulled himself retired of information up of crippled one, but with Walsh suspended for aft swearing astatine a referee successful the Broncos nonaccomplishment to the Titans successful circular 17, the Knights fullback had been floated arsenic a imaginable replacement.

But contempt admitting helium had spoken to Ponga past week, Slater said it was a "mutual decision" that helium stay retired of the moving for selection.

"I talk to Kalyn rather regularly – I spoke to him earlier the commencement of the Origin bid and past week arsenic well," Slater said connected Nine's Sunday Footy show.

"Kalyn is precise overmuch a Queenslander, helium loves playing for Queensland and representing the maroon jersey. I person nary uncertainty helium is going to correspond Queensland again successful the future.

"Kalyn's precedence present is conscionable to play footy. It's large to spot him drawstring a period of footy together.

"He's played 4 games consecutively, starting to play immoderate bully shot backmost successful his presumption arsenic fullback.

"The precedence for Kalyn is to support connected the tract and bash his occupation for the Knights.

"That determination was made beauteous aboriginal that Kalyn wouldn't travel backmost for this 3rd game."

Ponga was sensational successful the archetypal fractional of the Knights' clash against the Bulldogs.