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Billy Slater said Kalyn Ponga was never in contention to replace the suspended Reece Walsh for State of Origin III.

Ponga pulled himself out of consideration ahead of game one, but with Walsh suspended for after swearing at a referee in the Broncos loss to the Titans in round 17, the Knights fullback had been floated as a potential replacement.

But despite admitting he had spoken to Ponga last week, Slater said it was a “mutual decision” that he remain out of the running for selection.

“I speak to Kalyn quite regularly – I spoke to him before the start of the Origin series and last week as well,” Slater said on Nine’s Sunday Footy show.

“Kalyn is very much a Queenslander, he loves playing for Queensland and representing the maroon jersey. I have no doubt he is going to represent Queensland again in the future.

“Kalyn’s priority now is just to play footy. It’s great to see him string a month of footy together.

“He’s played four games consecutively, starting to play some good football back in his position as fullback.

“The priority for Kalyn is to keep on the field and do his job for the Knights.

“That decision was made pretty early that Kalyn wouldn’t come back for this third game.”

Ponga was sensational in the first half of the Knights’ clash against the Bulldogs.