Daly Cherry-Evans isn’t the only Queensland superstar who should have his head on the chopping block going into Thursday night’s showdown between Manly and Newcastle.
With Origin II teams named after the weekend, it’s also time for Kalyn Ponga to hit the go button.
If Ponga can’t at least aim up for his club, how does he keep his spot in the Maroons’ starting team for a do-or-die Origin?
Given Reece Walsh is listed to return from injury when the Broncos take on the Titans on Saturday, there is also a push from some very influential Queenslanders for Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to be considered at his preferred fullback position.
Of course, this wouldn’t even be a discussion if Ponga had been playing anywhere close to his best this season.
But you only need to look at Ponga’s numbers to see how much he is struggling.
It’s beyond comprehension that the greatest attacking weapon in the NRL (and the man who also commands the biggest pay packet on a whopping $1.4m-a-season) has not scored a single try in 10 games.
To put it in perspective, Ponga had three tries in 16 games last year, but the season before he had nine in 20 games on his way to winning the Dally M Medal.
On top of that Ponga has only six try assists (he had 24 in 20 games in 2023 when he was recognised as the game’s best player), while he has only four linebreaks (less than half what he averaged the last two seasons), 12 linebreak assists (on par with last year but way down on 2023) and 42 tackle busts (considerably down on average for the last two years).
Throw in his figures in Origin 1 where he finished with a respectable 128m but still never looked a serious threat, with only three tackle busts and no linebreaks or try assists.
Surely there must be at least a debate about Ponga’s position going forward.
While it would seem unthinkable Slater would completely axe Ponga from the squad, moving him to the bench could solve several issues.
Firstly, keeping Tabuai-Fidow at centre is another massive gamble given the way the Hammer constantly comes off second-best when marking up against Stephen Crichton.
But fullback is the position where he excels, and Hammer has scored eight tries for the Dolphins this year.
There has been some speculation Tabuai-Fidow could be shifted to the wing and Val Holmes into the centres.
But with talk escalating Slater will start Tom Dearden at halfback ahead of DCE, that would open up the utility spot on the bench that Ponga could cover perfectly.
Walsh’s return against the Titans will obviously also play a significant part in the selection discussion given how highly Slater rates the Broncos fullback.
But it would be a huge call rushing Walsh back into a must-win Origin after only one NRL game, while Hammer’s form for the Dolphins against the Dragons on Friday night could be the key to how this plays out.
And after missing last week’s loss to the Dragons, Ponga also returns under a fitness cloud due to a painful ankle injury that limited his preparations going into Origin I.
It’s no secret that the Knights’ attack has been a disaster this season, with by far the least points scored of any team (159).
And while Ponga’s input is obviously a reflection of a bigger issue, there is also no way of sugarcoating the fact his individual form is also a reflection of the team’s struggles.
Don’t forget that when Ponga pulled out of Mal Meninga’s Kangaroo squad at the end of last season he said it was because he wanted to focus on starting this season fresh and making Newcastle his priority.
Yet the Knights go into round 14 third last on the ladder (and on the same competition points as the last placed Titans).
If the Knights are to be any hope of playing finals football this year, they need their marquee man at least playing somewhere close to his best.
So do Queensland if they are any chance of keeping this series alive.
As great a player as Ponga is, what we’ve seen from him so far this season does not warrant automatic Origin selection.
