Kalyn Ponga Set for No.7 as Origin Game 1 Team News Looms

Queensland’s origin game 1 team news is set to bring a major shake-up on Monday morning, with Billy Slater preparing to name Kalyn Ponga at halfback for Game 1. Slater will unveil his Maroons side at 9am Monday after Tom Dearden’s serious ankle injury ruled him out of contention for the opener.

Slater’s 9am call

That puts Ponga in the No.7 for a selection that changes Queensland’s starting spine before the series begins. The move comes after Dearden was injured last week, opening the halfback spot and leaving Slater to weigh up a reshuffle at a position that had not looked settled.

Daly Cherry-Evans remains a possible recall option, while Sam Walker and Jake Clifford are also in the frame for the role. Slater has also made a huge decision regarding the fullback position, adding another layer to a team announcement that will define Queensland’s first Origin lineup of the series.

Queensland’s halfback options

Ponga’s move is the sharpest change in the picture because it shifts him away from the role he has filled before and into the key distributor spot for Game 1. The selection leaves Queensland with several recognised halfback choices still on the table, but Slater’s direction points toward a bold answer rather than a conservative one.

Dearden’s injury is the turning point behind the switch. Once he was ruled out of the opener, the Maroons had to find a new path at No.7, and the names attached to that decision show how open the race became in a matter of days.

Game 1 selection pressure

The timing adds urgency. Slater’s squad will be named at 9am on Monday, giving Queensland a final answer before the series opener and giving supporters a clear read on how the Maroons intend to line up from the start.

For now, the headline is Ponga at No.7 and a major fullback call still hanging over the same announcement. That is the selection move that will shape the rest of Queensland’s Game 1 build.