Legends weigh in on 'neck and neck' Maroons headache

Queensland greats Darren Lockyer and Wally Lewis have weighed in on the biggest State of Origin selection dilemma, claiming the battle of the fullbacks is a “good problem to have” for coach Billy Slater.

Reigning Dally M Player of the Year Kalyn Ponga is a strong contender to take the No.1 jersey over incumbent Maroons fullback Reece Walsh, who starred in last year’s series.

Ponga, who has played seven games in the Maroons jersey, was not selected for the 2023 Queensland side after ruling himself out due to ongoing concussion issues.

Coming off the back of his third-straight Origin victory, Slater revealed he will not “close any opportunities down” to develop his team, revealing “anything’s possible” for his selection in regards to Walsh and Ponga.

Tino Fa’asuamaleaui is congratulated by Queensland coach Billy Slater.

“My attention right now is just watching players, watching the habits that they’ve got in their game. You know, watching the standards they hold themselves to not just each game but each moment in each game,” he said on Tuesday.

“That’s really important because that sort of habit is what they’re going to fall back on when they get tired and I can guarantee you they’re going to get tired in the game that they’re playing if they were in a maroon jersey.”

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However, the star Queensland coach has a heavy decision to make across various points of the line, with Maroons legends Lewis and Lockyer undecided on who Slater will pick to start in perhaps the toughest decision of his coaching tenure.

“I think they [Walsh and Ponga] are neck and neck,” Lockyer said on Wide World of Sports QLDER.

“Billy is big on watching movement off the ball and the habits of players. I think he will be watching both of these players very closely. He’s obviously a big fan of both.

“I think Reece, while he created some opportunities the other night, he would still be disappointed with some of the errors he’s made.

Reece Walsh running with the ball in the 2023 Origin series.

“That’s something he needs to manage moving every week between now and Origin because you just can’t afford to be making cheap errors.”

The question mark has also been raised as to whether the Maroons may see both fullbacks selected in the squad for the series opener.

Lockyer noted that if Slater were to name Ponga and Walsh in the Queensland lineup, Maroons veteran Ben Hunt or Melbourne’s Harry Grant would likely face the axe.

“At the moment if you’re looking … you’ve got Harry Grant and Ben Hunt – two players who have been instrumental,” he said.

“I’m not saying you can’t but if you were to pick two fullbacks, you’ve got two smaller people on the reserves bench.

“In the game, you need to have some sort of backup plans for head knocks and concussion. We’ve seen the 18th player been activated a few times.”

Lewis revealed he believes both players have the ability to “be able to move into dummy-half”, despite their lack of experience in the role.

Kalyn Ponga passing the ball. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

“I’m sure the selectors will say that’s a good problem to have if you’ve got those guys competing for the position,” he said.

“Those smaller guys, I think they have the ability to be able to move into dummy-half.

“They come into dummy-half and are able to race away from there, with almost monotonous regularity at great speed and put even more pressure on the opposition.

“It’s a good problem to have.”

The first game of the Origin series will kick off on June 5 at Accor Stadium.