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.
Josh H
Roar Rookie
That's an enormous big stretch given that Morgan hasn't played 6 since Thurston retired, he plays as a halfback. He's the only dominant half at the Cowboys as Asiata and Clifford tend to play second fiddle. That's precisely why he covers Munster in all of those kicking stats; because they are predominantly halfback-based attributes. Munster's no halfback. What about Munster's tackle breaks? Line breaks? Running metres? All mlodern five-eighth-dominant characteristics. I don't have the stats on me, but I daresay Munster would be far superior.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Dosen't matter who the Maroons have in this game 3, they can have all their interchange playing at the same time and they will still lose!
Rob
Guest
Should give Paul Hauff a call up. Good luck out jumping him Turbo. Adam Mogg might have nothing on either.
Rob
Guest
I’m yet to understand how players that are serial rat bags get released and move freely between clubs not completing their contracts while those that do the right thing and play their guts out get banned from playing? How does a club in breach of the salary cap stop others clubs obtaining a players services? We have Roberts, Farrar, Dugan, Lewis, Maloney, Woods, Moylan half of Penrith coaches Clearly and Bennett? Hell the Cowboys have been playing with a 29 man roster all year and released Lowe because he wasn’t happy? The Sharks picked up Johnson (golden boot winner) a year before his contract was up to fill Holmes position? Holmes gets called a dog by his drug taking captain because wanted to marry his home town girl and move back to home and family but gets sat out of the game? What a joke.
RandyM
Guest
I can't believe some people are trying argue that QLD will be stronger without Ponga. QLD don't have a Tom Tvrbojevic they can put in his place. Norman is talented but not the kind of player you want to pin your hopes on for a decider in Sydney. If QLD are to win they need a firing Ponga in my opinion. Bring on game 3!
Rob
Guest
Perhaps Morgan? Morgan has way more kick metres, 40/20’s, forced dropouts, try assists this season and about 50 more games playing at 6 than Munster. Munster has played far more football at fullback than Morgan and makes fewer handling errors? Corey Norman is a good player on his day, but career stats that have him losing 55% of games in the NRL is a major worry for me going into a decider?
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
'dubious' penalty try? Puhleease
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Munster at FB brings him both sides of the field and clear of some hard traffic. Very dangerous. Also, maybe he can channel some of his Kangaroo aggro and smack Hunt across the chops and smarten him up around the ruck… But they really should have brought in Feldt, pushed Gagai to the centres with the challenge of proving he wants the spot and brought Morgan closer to the action at FB or 5/8.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
FUN and a sense of humour? "THAT's NOT in QLD!" Sorry, I forgot "North Korea" is a sad and gloomy place when QLD isn't winning. ;-)
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
There have been some howlers where a player has decided not to pass the ball and series and GF's have been lost but that's not one of them.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Absolutely, it’s a shame blokes feel the need to resort to Porkies over nothing more than a pub argument..
Nat
Roar Guru
One day you'll stick to a point. The Dally Ms are all you. Read don't react my man.
Short Memory
Guest
Lot of ifs in there, mate. Qld have scored 4 tries so far in this series. 2 off Ponga assists. 1 intercept. 1 dubious penalty try. Remove Ponga and what does that leave...?
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Players who have fairly ordinary games are often injured or have a virus. Turbo's comeback game for Manly a couple of weeks back was hampered by a virus and he was very average. It seems to lead to some over reaction at times as to a players ability and worth.
Emcie
Roar Guru
I swear we've covered this a hundred times Rob....
Rob
Guest
He should have turned up drunk to training and play like sheet in 2018 and missed the team bus to the finals game. Instead he almost won a DM and wanted to return home to be with his wife and family. He’s banned from playing?
Rob
Guest
You are all over it. Ponga had his legs cleaned out by Frizel and Maloney illegal early whilst in the air. He was struggling from that point on IMO. Ponga involvement in Game 1 proved to be the difference, his limited involvement due to carrying injury proved to be a flogging?
Josh H
Roar Rookie
I didn't say otherwise at all, Nat. All I said was that Ponga and Munster have different body types, with Ponga having a better jump as well as his speed off the mark which makes him more suited to the aerial nature of being a fullback. Munster may have other strengths, but equally, so does Ponga.
Josh H
Roar Rookie
Who actually is a better five-eighth than Munster at the moment, Scott? I can't think of too many. I don't think your analysis on Norman is strong, yeah he can "break a game open", but... can't Ponga do that as well? Plus, every characteristic you listed there as an attribute of Norman, Ponga can do it equally as well, if not, better. In any case, however, he isn't a patch on Munster.
Carlos Marrickvillian
Roar Rookie
I disagree with you here I think Munster at full back will be good for NSW as it means they'll play Norman at either center or half. As a NSW fan I really hope they put him in the centers... If they make Munster fullback I hope they can try to rattle him a bit with lots of high balls and some heavy defence really encourage the brain snap which is always just below the surface with this guy.