Darryl Brohman calls on Maroons to pick Ponga for Origin decider 05:22

Now boys, on to Origin. We'll get your thoughts on New South Wales in just a second, but let's start with Queensland. Caelan Ponga is playing this afternoon and the Queensland coach Billy Slater was asked whether he's in the mix for a Queensland State of Origin recall. Well, the first thing I'm looking at for Caelan is hopefully he goes out there and he's got a big smile on his face. He's Mr...

a whole heap of footy. It was great to see Tom Trubojevic back in the game. We want to see our best players playing the game. So hopefully he's fit and he's playing this afternoon for the Knights and yeah, we'll go from there. But

But look, he's been a big part of the Queensland team for a number of years. Missed last year and was in great form at the start of the year. So he's just got to get back on the field and start playing footy. The other player that Billy was asked about on the Sunday footy show earlier today was David Fafita. Daryl, who I know you're a big fan of. This is what Billy had to say. Well, we picked the team this afternoon. You'll have to wait. I think he'll be on the bench. I'm just reading Billy's mind.

Out of respect to, you know, there's a lot of players playing this afternoon that are in contention. Out of respect to everyone, it would be disrespectful to go out and throw names out there and say this guy's in the team, this guy isn't. To be honest, it doesn't get finalised until...

Six o'clock tonight after that last game's finished. Straight bat from Billy. Straight bat from the coach. I don't think he had to play it that way. Of course. There's still two games to go. There's injuries. It could be more injuries. What are you thinking changes-wise, Darrell? I think Fafida will be in the squad. And I think if Pong, if he comes out and plays today and plays pretty well...

I'd have him in the squad as well. I don't know if I'd – I wouldn't have him in the team, but I'd have him on the bench. Because I – remember his first State of Origin game? I think he played back row. Yeah, he came on. From memory. Might have played lock forward or second row. Yeah. And he killed him. Mate, he's a super player. And if he's fit, rearing, you know, ready to go. Last year, I think he pulled out because of the head knocks. He didn't want to play State of Origin. And the head knocks, fortunately for him, have sort of been pushed to the –

to the background a little bit. We're not talking about that. Admittedly, he hasn't played for about six weeks. Look, he's a quality player. If he's fit and available, I'd have him on the bench. He played lock in his previous role, remember? And he played like a traditional lock. He was a ball player. He was just their third ball player and carved up. Yeah, he's a good player. Mate...

There's one thing I know about rugby league. You can't have too many good players in your team. And he's a good player. He's an X Factor, isn't he? Kalen Ponga. Andrew Johns and Brad Fittler, they were also asked about who they choose to replace Latrell Mitchell. Here are the boys. Bradman. Has to pick Bradman. Pretty much a like for like as in powerhouse, the way he plays on that left side.

And he's in great form, Bradman. Yeah, I'd go Bradman for sure, without a shadow of a doubt. Turbo looked a little bit underdone. I think he could play Turbo. It might take a while for him to get back into form. Pretty tough game going to Townsville. I've got to say, it's your first game as well with the heat and the quality of that game. But given Latrell's on the left-hand side, Bradman plays left. Burton's the other one. He's a left-sided player as well. Suweli, he picked him in the first game on the right. Right.

um but I don't even want to take Crichton away from that side so uh I'm assuming that he'd go with Bradman yeah Brad Fittler Andrew Johns on the Sunday footy show Gaz given you were talking about um Tom Trebojevic I'm interested though I mean Daryl talks about Caelan Ponger you talk about Tom Trebojevic is it a worry when you haven't had a lot of game time leading into an origin is that sort of going to play against them or not it is if you don't know their personality like I remember Ricky Stewart was big on that too um

you know, when he bought Andrew Johns even back from a knee reconstruction and only played, I think, one game and was only 50 minutes, I think, leading in. If the personality has experience in that arena and they tell you they're ready, I would go off that, particularly given Tom's experience. In regards to that, I can see what they're thinking with the left and right, Freddie and Joey, with their comments. But Stephen Crichton plays left and right. He does left really, really well. Whereas Tommy and Zach, see, what I mean is it's a little bit

Sometimes our attack, to be honest, is a little bit predictable. You can see where they set up what they're doing. If you've got Tommy that floats, he brings that X factor, as he did in Perth, all those times when he had great games. And Zach can fill in at right centre. Tommy can float on the wing. If he is a bit underdone, they can hop in and out. Nothing's going to be lost there. I just think it gives us a bit more potency. And if you go up there to defend your way to victory, you're going to lose. What are you thinking Michael Maguire will do, Piggy? Oh, look, I've got no idea. I...

No, because I understand everything Gaz is saying there. And I understand if we're all going to say, oh, Ponga's had one game back. And if he's going to go into the Queensland team, then there's no reason why someone like Tommy Turbo couldn't come back and do a similar thing. I'd be surprised if Bradman Best isn't there. They're probably the two picks for me. If I think back to Bradman Best debut for New South Wales, he killed it. He killed it. Game three last year, wasn't it? I think he might have been man of the match. Yeah. He scored.

two tries? I think he might have scored two tries. Yeah, he did. But it was a different arena. It was a dead rubber, wasn't it? Yeah. And he's going out with, is it Jeff Fennick's daughter? Yes. You've got to pick him then, don't you? I think you've got to pick him. LAUGHTER

I'd be picketing. Anyone going out with Geoff Fennec's daughter, I'm picketing. You're scared of Geoffrey, are you? A little bit, yes. Well, there you are, folks. There are the boys' thoughts on State of Origin, New South Wales squad name tonight and the Queensland team name tomorrow morning.