State of Origin - Queensland Team - Game 2 - Kalyn Ponga to debut!

Queensland has announced there team for Game 2 of the 2018 State of Origin being played this Sunday and coach Kevin Walters has been fairly conservative and has made limited changes. The most notable inclusions are Billy Slater coming back from injury in the number 1 jersey at fullback and 20 year old rookie sensation Kalyn Ponga being named to make his State of Origin debut off the bench. Pongas form has been irrepressible this year and could no longer be ignored, with Slater not having played for 5 weeks with a hamstring injury Ponga will offer cover at fullback and as a utility back off the bench. He has come in for Anthony Milford who was a late inclusion in Origin 1 and also gets his chance due to Michael Morgan being ruled out for the season with a bicep injury.

Perhaps surprisingly the Queensland pack that was outplayed in Origin 1 has remained the same with Tim Glasby of the Melbourne storm on stand by for prop Dylan Nappa who injured his ankle over the weekend playing for the Roosters. Warhorse Matt Scott was not considered due to a fresh neck injury and coach Walters remained loyal to the other members of the pack, personally i would have liked to have seen a couple of changes made with Joe Ofengahue coming in for Gavin Cooper and possibly someone coming in for Coen Hess. The two Cowboys were underwhelming in Origin 1 and can consider themselves very fortunate to be given the opportunity for redemption in Origin 2.

For me the player under the most pressure for Queensland is Ben Hunt, starting in his second game as halfback and in his 3rd Origin Game it is time for Hunt to step up, i thought he was underwhelming in Game 1 and his kicking game was a bit off. He really needs a big game to cement that number 7 jersey for the future and for Queensland to have any chance of winning.

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