Brisbane fullback Reece Walsh has always said he relishes a challenge and he is going to get one when he goes head-to-head with the man he beat to the Queensland No.1 jersey. Walsh will do battle with Newcastle custodian Kalyn Ponga on Saturday night at Suncorp Stadium, 10 days after he starred for the Maroons on debut in the 26-18 State of Origin series opener in Adelaide. Ponga, despite being the incumbent Maroons fullback, was overlooked and has since said that he wanted to focus on playing regular and quality football for the Knights after repeated concussions limited his early season game time. Ponga wants his Maroons jersey back in the future and Broncos coach Kevin Walters has his players primed to deal with the threat the Knights maestro will pose. "It's a ripping contest," Walters said. "Both players have played for Queensland and are in good touch. Walshy has had a good couple of weeks. "He needs to keep going with his footy and the other fella, we will worry about him when we have to. "Kalyn is a strike player, a very good player and an elite player. Everything good about Newcastle normally hangs around everything Kalyn does. "Certainly we have done our homework on him and we need to be good defensively because the Knights can score points if you allow them the time and space." Walsh has lit up the NRL with his razzle dazzle feet, electric speed and creativity. His toughness, defensive resolve and thirst for knowledge have impressed the Broncos and Maroons hierarchy more than anything. "He is a rugby league student Walshy and a tough bugger as well, which you need to be when you play rugby league in the NRL," Walters said. "We expect Reece to stay on his journey and his pathway, but what he has brought to us this year with his skill has been dynamic ... and we saw that for Queensland as well. "We will keep him grounded, but keep him playing the footy he needs to play for his pathway to continue." While Ponga missed out on Maroons selection he is one of several gun Queensland-qualified fullbacks in the NRL. The Dolphins' Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow played centre with brilliance in Adelaide but shines at fullback for his club. Gold Coast's AJ Brimson starred in his side's 28-12 win over Wests Tigers on return from injury while Walsh and Ponga will battle for the No.1 jersey for years to come. "We have some great depth in our state now. We have some really good young players coming through," former Maroons coach Walters said. Australian Associated Press
