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Kalyn Ponga officially ruled out of Origin 1

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2nd June, 2021
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The Queensland Maroons have been dealt a massive blow ahead of State of Origin Game 1, with Newcastle fullback Kalyn Ponga today officially ruled out of the series opener.

Ponga had been absent from the Newcastle line-up in recent weeks while nursing a groin injury, but Queensland coach Paul Green still named the 23-year-old in his 20-man line-up for Game 1 in the hopes he’d recover in time.

However, the team today conceded that he would not be fit in time for Wednesday night’s opening match at Townsville’s Queensland Country Bank Stadium.

“Kalyn has been progressing with his rehab but time is against us,” said Maroons team doctor Matt Hislop, in a statement.

“The decision has been made for him to return to the Newcastle Knights where he can focus on further recovery,” he said.

Ponga made his brief Origin debut off the bench in Game 2 of the 2018 series, before lining up as the fullback for the first two matches of 2019’s series. A hamstring strain saw him miss the decider, however, while he was absent from last year’s series altogether due to shoulder surgery.

The Maroons will hold their first main training session tomorrow. The battle for the no.1 jersey looks to be between Valentine Holmes and AJ Brimson and, although media reports indicate Holmes is in front, Brimson did a superb job in Ponga’s absence last season.

However, Brimson remaining at centre would allow Kurt Capewell – who infamously filled in as a back last series – to resume his proper role in the forward pack.

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