Billy Slater will name his Queensland State of Origin team for Game 1 at 9am on Monday, with the final shape of the side still hinging on two major calls. Tom Dearden’s serious ankle injury last week ruled him out of contention for the opener and opened the door for a new halfback, while Slater has also made a huge decision on the fullback position.
Kalyn Ponga is set to be named in the No.7, a move that would redraw Queensland’s halves picture and leave Daly Cherry-Evans without the opening that had appeared after Dearden went down. Sam Walker and Jake Clifford are also among the options being considered for halfback, but the selection of Ponga points to Slater backing a different direction for the series opener.
The announcement comes with Queensland preparing for Game 1 and trying to settle a spine that was thrown into doubt by Dearden’s injury. Cherry-Evans had looked to have a path back into the team after Dearden was hurt, but the shape of Monday’s squad suggests Slater is prepared to make a broader gamble than simply replacing one injured player with another.
That is where the real pressure sits for Queensland: the halfback call is no longer only about filling a vacancy, but about deciding who best fits alongside the rest of the spine. With Ponga expected at No.7 and a major decision also looming at fullback, Slater is moving quickly to lock in a side that can absorb the loss of Dearden and still start the series on terms he trusts.
By Monday morning, Queensland will know whether Slater has gone with experience, form or a reshaped plan for the Origin opener. For Reece Walsh, the decision on fullback is the one that could define how the team looks when it runs out for Game 1.
