LIVE: Ponga to win Queensland No.1 jersey

Kalyn Ponga has beaten Reece Walsh for Maroons No.1 jersey, with the Newcastle superstar to commencement astatine fullback for the Maroons successful State of Origin I, according to AAP.

Ponga's enactment comes aft questions were raised astir his spot successful the squad arsenic helium battled to retrieve from a 4th concussion successful nether a year.

Even though helium struggled for signifier astatine five-eighth for Newcastle, it appears manager Billy Slater volition amusement religion successful Ponga and prime him astatine the back.

The 25-year-old past survived a scare successful the Knights' nonaccomplishment to Cronulla connected Saturday erstwhile helium was taken disconnected the tract for a HIA but passed and volition beryllium picked by the Maroons.

"We each cognize Kalyn's past and for him to spell disconnected the field. It wasn't large for him," Slater said connected Nine's Sunday Footy Show.

"But the bully motion was helium came backmost connected and it didn't look similar it affected him. He made immoderate large tackles successful the 2nd half. That is the bully signs for Kalyn."

Selwyn Cobbo and Murray Taulagi are apt to beryllium the 2 wingers, with Melbourne flyer Xavier Coates is expected to beryllium near out.

It's understood Dane Gagai has kept his spot successful the broadside and volition apt spouse Valentine Holmes successful the centres.

Felise Kaufusi's looming prohibition for a precocious changeable is apt to mean David Fifita being recalled, with Kurt Capewell and Tom Gilbert locked successful arsenic different second-rowers successful the squad.

While Tom Flegler

Tom Flegler is besides acceptable to gain a callback for the archetypal clip since his sole acquisition successful Origin III of 2021, arsenic 1 of 4 Broncos alongside Cobbo, Capewell and fastener Pat Carrigan.