Kalyn Ponga’s Origin return didn’t pan out like he planned, but he has backed himself to build on his combination with Reece Walsh if given the chance to play Origin together again.
Queensland fans had high hopes for the two star fullbacks to combine and put on an attacking display in the decider, but in a tight and defence-oriented game, neither were given any space by a committed Blues outfit to create.
Ponga, selected in the unfamiliar role bench utility, said while it was “hard” waiting for his time to get on the field, he was happy to be back in maroon after making the tough decision to withdrawal his availability last year for well-being reasons after dealing with successive concussions.
A Lisfranc injury then sidelined him for much of this season, before his successful Round 18 return against the Raiders proved enough for Queensland coach Billy Slater to warrant a recall.
“It was pretty hard (watching the game from the bench) … but it's a different role for sure,” Ponga said.
“Fullback, you sort of get into a rhythm almost.
“If I'm in that position next year, hopefully I can train a bit more and I'd like to be better.
“I didn't think I'd be back here for Game Three.
“I didn't know if I was going to be back playing by now.
“(Next time) I think if we get it done right; prepare better, obviously get the combination going a little bit more, you'd like to think that we're both a threat, so the more that we can be a threat, obviously the better.
“But we didn't earn the right tonight.
“I would have liked to have done a better job individually myself tonight, but it lights the fire for next year.”
Slater said while the dual selection of Ponga and Walsh didn’t produce the desired outcome this time around, he wouldn’t hesitate to pick both fullbacks in the same side again.
“Why not?” Slater said.
“I played with Karmichael Hunt. I played alongside Darius Boyd, Kalyn’s played alongside Reece Walsh.
“Sometimes, you can look at the footy and you look at positions and you can go with the traditional or you can actually be innovative and think of different ways to play the game.
“I'm not saying that that's what we did, Kalyn just went on in the middle of the field, but there's all those options out there.
“Maybe we just don't explore them enough.
“When you've got guys like Pat Carrigan and Reuben Cotter that can play huge minutes and we took Reuben off and then were just looking for an opportunity to get him back on there.
“When you've got that flexibility in your team, you can have a bit of a flexible bench. That's just the way it went.
“I thought (Ponga) did a great job, he was very impressive throughout the week as well.
“I thought he did a great job defensively in the middle of the field, he took the line on.
“Would have liked to get him in a bit more space, but that wasn't to be. I think he was good.”
Slater, Ponga and Maroons captain Daly Cherry-Evans also all praised the effort of Walsh, who endured a tough series and seemed hampered by injury after enduring some tough hits by the Blues.
One of the superstars of the game, Walsh was looked on as one of Queensland’s strike weapons and accordingly was heavily targeted by the defence to shut down his impact.
Leaving the field in the seventh minute in Game One after a tackle gone wrong from Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali left him concussed and kept quite - like all of his teammates - at the MCG, Walsh was more involved in Game Three and looked threatening at times, but still wasn’t able to break the game open.
“I feel like his series this year; your second year in is where you've really got to figure out different ways to beat in opposition,” Cherry-Evans said.
“I've been in through exactly what Reece has been through; a lot of people in the game have been what through what Reece has been through.
“You go through these periods where the opposition will ultimately try and come up with ways to stop you.
“Knowing the person he is, he's got the work ethic and the ability to overcome it.
“I have got so much belief in Reece Walsh. He can hold his head high as well.
“It's not the result we wanted and not the series any of us wanted.
“I've got a lot of belief in him.”
