Reece Walsh will have a golden opportunity to impress Queensland coach Billy Slater on Saturday, with the Maroons likely to have to change their fullback for the State of Origin decider. Kalyn Ponga suffered a foot injury on Friday night and limped off with 20 minutes remaining in the Knights' loss to Canberra.

The Newcastle and Queensland fullback was seen in a moon boot after the game, and Knights coach Adam O'Brien said he'd go for scans. Crucially, O'Brien said it wasn't the same foot that kept Ponga out for two months last year with a Lisfranc injury.

However it remains to be seen whether he's suffered the same injury on the other foot. "Kalyn's tough. He doesn't come off for much. You have to drag him off the field with a tow truck normally, so it's probably not a good sign," O'Brien said.

Kalyn Ponga limped off with a foot injury and was seen being consoled by his mum. Image: Channel 9

Ponga was spotted being consoled by his mum after the game. "Mum's there. So, that's probably not a good sign," Slater said on the Channel 9 coverage.

Ponga has been playing through an ankle injury for weeks, and was also seen with heavy strapping on his knee on Friday night. With the State of Origin decider less than two weeks away, Slater might be forced to find a new fullback for game in Sydney.

Reece Walsh or Hamiso Tabui-Fidow if Ponga is out?

Earlier on Friday, Broncos coach Michael Maguire declared Walsh had already done enough to warrant a recall. The Broncos fullback misses six weeks with a knee injury, and has looked visibly hampered in the two games he's played since he returned.

Kalyn Ponga was spotted in a moon boot after the game. Image: Getty

But he was back to his lively best against the Sharks last weekend, finishing with two try assists, three line-break assists, a line-break, five tackle busts and 178 run metres. He'll get one final audition against the Warriors on Saturday afternoon, but Maguire believes he's already done enough.

"He's done that in the last couple of weeks," the coach said. "Last week he took a massive step where I think he's ready. It's just a matter of whether the opportunity arises for him. He works really hard at his game and he's actually good to have around ... just loves talking footy, that's certainly my style."

Walsh was Queensland fullback when the Maroons lost the series in 2024, and was rather quiet. He earned his spot when Ponga opted out of the 2023 series, but the Knights fullback got it back this year.

Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Reece Walsh are the leading candidates to replace Kalyn Ponga if he's ruled out. Image: Getty

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The other option for Slater would be to shift Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to fullback and bring in a winger or centre. Murray Taulagi has returned to full fitness with the Cowboys and could easily slot in on the wing. Ezra Mam was 18th man in Game 2, but only plays in the halves. While Jack Howarth (19th man in Game 2) has been ruled out after having appendix surgery.

Tellingly, former Broncos player Denan Kemp declared last week that he wouldn't be picking Walsh. Kemp suggested Slater might need to axe Ponga after a number of errors in Game 2, but Kemp hinted he'd pick Tabuai-Fidow over Walsh.

This article originally appeared on Yahoo Sport Australia at https://au.news.yahoo.com/reece-walsh-in-state-of-origin-twist-after-devastating-blow-for-kalyn-ponga-before-decider-203705774.html