Knights coach Justin Holbrook has stated Kalyn Ponga is too good a player to not start for Queensland and has backed him to play halfback if Billy Slater makes that selection call.
With incumbent Maroons seven Tom Dearden ruled out with an ankle injury, Slater will be forced to make changes to his spine, with representative fullback Ponga open to playing halfback, declaring he would “play anywhere for Queensland”.
“I'll play anywhere, I've said that before,” Ponga said.
“I know what I'm like when I get my head on, I get excited by challenges, so whatever position I play – obviously fullback's my position – but like I said, I'll play anywhere for Queensland.”
Ponga is not unfamiliar with playing out of position in Origin, making his debut in 2018 by coming off the bench to play a roving lock role.
He is also no stranger to playing in the halves and what that entails, having featured at five-eighth for the Knights in the past, as well as for the Māori All Stars.
For Holbrook, his star captain needed to be on the field, no matter the position.
“He's too good a player not to have on the field …,” Holbrook said.
“I wouldn't have him at 14 … you want your best players on the field.
“I'd love him to be at fullback … Do I want him at half or no, but if he's not fullback, he's got to be on the field somewhere, so I wish him all the best.
“I'd love him to just be having a week off (with the bye), but it's that time of year where the best players got to play each other and he's one of the best players, so you have got to have him on the field.
“Kalyn, you could put him anywhere and he'd get himself into the game.
“(It would work) because of how good a player he is and I'm not inflating that.
“Kalyn is that good a player and no matter where you put him … you always find a spot for the best players.”
Ponga: 'I'll play anywhere for Queensland'
After seeing what Ponga can do up close after his Titans side went down 36-12 in their Magic Round clash, former Queensland assistant coach Josh Hannay said the unconventional pairing of Ponga and Queensland captain Cameron Munster at five-eighth was “a great idea”.
"That's what I'd do,” Hannay said. “I reckon it's a great idea.
"With all due respect to Sam Walker, he's a good young player and he's got a lot to offer, but I just think if you've got the opportunity to pick Kalyn Ponga, you find somewhere to put him.
"I feel like he could play that position on his ear," Hannay said.
"He's smart, the modern-day spine functions differently to the old days where you had to have a traditional seven getting the team around the park.
"I've got a feeling that the opposition wouldn't like to see him in that position.
“Guys like him, Munster, those gifted playmakers, they find a way.
“They are so good. They know how to adjust, adapt on the run – I’m a big supporter of it.”
The Queensland Maroons team for Game One of the 2026 State of Origin series will be announced officially at 9am on Monday morning.
