Andrew Johns rips Queensland for choosing Kalyn Ponga over Origin veteran

NRL immortal Andrew Johns has criticised the Maroons decision to replace the injured Billy Slater with Newcastle youngster Kalyn Ponga.

Ponga, who has played just 22 NRL games across two seasons, is set to make his Origin debut after Slater injured his troublesome hamstring in training, but Johns said he wouldn’t have picked the star.

“Even though he’s ready, I see it as a huge gamble,” he said.

“If I was coaching Queensland, I’d pick Darius Boyd because you know what you’re going to get. Defensively, he’d organise them well. He knows the players, how they play.”

Boyd, who has 28 Origin jerseys for Queensland, was reportedly overlooked due to wanting to go on a holiday with his family in New Zealand rather than training with Kevin Walters’ squad.

With Slater out of the fold, Johns backed North Queensland star Michael Morgan to ultimately replace Slater in the full-back position.

“There’s talk that Morgan could go to five-eighth and Munster could go to full back but there’s too many changes,” he said.

“I think they’ll just put Morgan to full back and Ponga on the bench.

“I wouldn’t move Inglis back there.”

Despite nominating Morgan for the position, the former Blues Origin star said playing Morgan was also fraught with danger for the Maroons.

“I’d be worried about the fitness of Michael Morgan because we know he’s carrying that groin injury.”