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Kalyn Ponga is not that big of a loss to the Queensland Maroons.
There, I said it.
Before you come at me with your pitchforks, flaming torches and loaded crossbows, Kalyn Ponga’s role in the Queensland team has been barely noticeable so far this series, with the exception of the second half in Game 1.
In fact, I’m going to go as far as to say the loss of Ponga to a calf injury for the decider in Sydney might actually help the Maroons.
That is a sentence I didn’t think anyone would be writing before this series got underway, but four weeks and two sub-standard performances later, and here we are.
To be fair to Ponga, there were no Maroons who played all that well during their Game 2 shellacking.
But even when the forward pack are getting smashed – and let’s be honest here, the Maroons pack were getting absolutely rolled for the entirety of Game 2 – the fullback can still be involved.
Instead, his form was weak, and his impact virtually non-existent. His kick returns were slow, lethargic and without purpose, and the rare attacking plays he did have were poorly judged, constructed and executed.
The one moment that really sticks out was around the 20th minute, when he threw a hero ball to Corey Oates who was virtually already out over the sideline. It simply wasn’t on against the Blues sliding defence, and Oates – predictably – ended up over the sideline.
(AAP Image/Dan Peled)
It killed off whatever momentum Queensland had gained trying to get back into the contest, and in the blink of an eye, their chance at winning the series before going back to Sydney for a decider was gone.
Playing poorly in a loss is somewhat understandable if the entire team doesn’t turn up and get bashed from the opening minutes, but what should have been of more concern for the Maroons was the way he didn’t inject himself into the contest until after halftime in Game 1.
Queensland got away with that, but when his opposite number James Tedesco is playing the best game of his career repetitively in the Origin arena, and fans are used to Billy Slater ripping opposition defensive lines in half, it’s not hard to see why Ponga’s performances have fallen short of par thus far.
That being said, he is in incredible form at club level, is one of the players of 2019, and was never going to be dropped from the side without reason.
Ponga’s absence should concern the Blues greatly.
The big information to note here is that Cameron Munster is likely to play fullback.
Munster has been a long way from his best during the Origin series, and in some ways, that could be said of his form at club level as well.
(Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
So long as his defence is up to scratch, a heavily involved Munster has the potential to be one of the best players in the game, and while he was heavily involved in Game 2, most of it was ineffective.
He finished up with 15 runs, but only 89 metres, and it’s his running game which is his most dangerous asset.
Take away the pressure of helping to run the team in the halves and not having to provide a kicking game, and he can pop up in open play, using his excellent field vision and rugby league IQ to chime into the Maroons attack.
Munster playing fullback feels like it’ll balance the team out more, especially with the in-form Corey Norman coming into the halves.
Norman might be playing in a struggling Dragons outfit, but he has probably been their best player this year, and the difference of their play with and without Norman is astronomical.
He has also proven on more than one occasion he can stand up under pressure with a couple of golden point field goals to ice games for the Red V.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Like Munster, he will have the right to play his natural game and do what’s in front of him throughout the 80 minutes, and the combination of Norman, Munster and some of the Queensland forwards in second phase play could be incredibly dangerous.
The biggest problem the Maroons may face with the new combination is if anyone forces their hand, or attempts to change their game to fit in with what was previously produced.
So long as they stick to their roles, these changes will be for the best – as long as Ben Hunt can get his act together out of dummy half and provide better service for his side.
None of this is to say Ponga won’t play Origin. He will be back for the Maroons and likely turn into a great player for Queensland.
But without the option of picking him for Game 3, the side might be better off.
Because if Munster rediscovers his touch and class at the back, then watch out – and probably watch the men from north of the Tweed lift the Origin Shield next Wednesday.