Maroons coach Billy Slater has responded to reviews Kalyn Ponga dominated himself out of the 2023 Origin sequence, revealing he was “very honest” with the Knights superstar.
Slater, along with Maroons selectors, decided against picking Newcastle’s marquee star after a series of head knocks kept him sidelined for an extended period.
According to News Corp, that led Ponga to reportedly sent Slater a text to inform him to not consider him for selection for the remainder of the series.
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Reece Walsh filled the incumbent’s shoes in fine fashion, stepping up in his Origin debut in Adelaide and responded to everything NSW threw at him.
Walsh and Ponga went toe-to-toe on Saturday night in a thrilling Knights and Broncos’ clash, with Brisbane scoring a late winner courtesy of Adam Reynolds.
Speaking after Queensland announced their team for Game II, Slater touched briefly on his conversation with Ponga and praised his club form.
“Yeah, it was good. Like everyone else I was sitting at home watching him and Reece go head to head and really enjoying their football, attacking the game,” Slater mentioned.
“I love Kalyn, I love what he brings to his footy team. I think he’s a great person and I have a lot of respect for him and I really enjoy working with him.
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“As I have with Reece… but it is just good to see him back playing footy.
“I was very honest with Kalyn leading in to the first selection and he is in a good place which is fantastic.”
There was clearly no love misplaced between Walsh and Ponga and the fullback duo had been captured in a touching embrace post-match.
The Broncos speedster was requested what was mentioned between the pair throughout Fox League’s Super Saturday protection.
“It was good, obviously as a kid I grew up watch KP (Ponga) play and to be able to share the field with him it is a dream come true,” Walsh mentioned.
“He was just congratulating me on the footy I have been playing this year and I was doing the same thing, he’s had a couple of knocks and he is back out on the field doing what KP does. It is really good to see.”
Source: www.foxsports.com.au