Kalyn Ponga has stepped into the Queensland camp, feeling he is in the "sweet spot" of his career and believes he can excel at fullback.
Coach Billy Slater highlighted this "sweet spot" to justify Ponga's selection over Reece Walsh for the upcoming State of Origin opener on May 27 in Sydney.
Although Ponga debuted in 2018, his Origin career has faced interruptions due to injuries, limiting him to just 10 appearances for the Maroons.
In 2022, he played all the matches in the series for the first time and was named man of the match in the deciding game.
This season, he began strong with Newcastle, experienced an injury setback, and then returned with impressive form.
While in camp and fulfilling media obligations, Ponga seems to be in a positive mindset.
In response to Slater's "sweet spot" remark, Ponga shared insightful thoughts.
"I'm just older and I understand myself and what it takes to prepare for games," he noted.
"I care a lot more about my footy."