KALYN Ponga is set to become the second-least experienced Queensland State of Origin star, Maroons coach Kevin Walters has hinted.

The Queensland coach on Wednesday declared the Knights star is an attractive option for him as Queensland selectors look to try and fill the void left by Cameron Smith’s representative football retirement.

The Storm captain on Tuesday pulled the pin on his Queensland and Australian career, choosing to focus on keeping his body healthy enough to play for Melbourne.

One of the biggest headaches created by Smith’s retirement from Origin is the 35-year-old’s goalkicking skills.

With Johnathan Thurston also retiring from representative football, Queensland has no recognised goalkicker in its incumbent squad from the victorious 2017 squad.

Walters said Rabbitohs centre Dane Gagai has experience in goalkicking, but he was overlooked for the duty at club-level even when South Sydney halfback Adam Reynolds was injured earlier this year.

If Walters wants a specialist kicker in his team, Ponga and Manly superstar Daly Cherry-Evans loom as the two most obvious selections.

However, selecting either of them would force Queensland selectors to snub incumbents.

The two spots on the Queensland wing are now the most contentious in the Maroons’ team for Origin I at the MCG on June 6.

With Ponga now firmly in the race, the Newcastle star joins Broncos captain Darius Boyd, Gagai, Kangaroos star Valentine Holmes and in-form Broncos winger Corey Oates.

Ponga’s huge advantage on his competition is his fill-time goalkicking duties at the Knights — and Queensland’s desperate need to find a goalkicker.

Walters’ other option is to go back to the future with Cherry-Evans, who has been largely overlooked in Queensland selection debates this year, behind stars Ben Hunt, Cameron Munster and Michael Morgan.

“Dane Gagai, he used to practice a bit last year. If he’s in the side he could,” Walters told Sky Sports Radio about his goalkicking dilemma.

“Normally you’ve got at least one specialist from one of the clubs. Being so blessed over the years with (Johnathan) Thurston and Cameron (Smith), I can’t remember anyone taking a shot for Queensland in the last 15 years other than those two.

“It’s so important goalkicking today. The last couple of years we’ve won games with a goalkick and that was Johnathan Thurston both times.”

He said Ponga’s inexperience isn’t an issue for him. Ponga has played just 10 NRL games and will have played just 12 games before Origin I.

Only Ben Ikin has been selected to play Origin with fewer games of NRL experience, when he was picked as an 18-year-old with four senior games experience.

“(Goal kicking) certainly does (enhance his chances),” Walters told the Big Sports Breakfast.

“At the start of the year we identified him with our Emerging programs, but his progression has been so good over the opening 10 rounds.

“And he is a goal kicker, so that certainly does put him into the frame if that’s the line we go along.

“Cameron Smith had about 15 games of first grade before his first Origin game ... Kalyn has had 10 (19 in total).

“He’s one of those kids who’s got a really mature mind and I daresay he will handle the step up in class.

“He’s one of those really gifted players.”

“That might be somewhere near a record if we blooded him in this series.”

It comes after NSW legend Mark Geyer said he expects Queensland to turn to Cherry-Evans at some point during the 2018 Origin series — especially if Broncos No. 9 Andrew McCullough struggles.

Geyer believes their could be a left field option that the Maroons selectors should look at if things don’t go to plan in the opening game.

“I think McCullough is first in line, he’s like a Cameron Smith type player so I think they’ll go with the safe option,” Geyer said.

“Left field, I think they’ll use Daly Cherry-Evans.

“I would think they’ll start the first game with McCullough and if it doesn’t work I would say, I’d put Cherry-Evans in.”

Meanwhile, Billy Slater will captain Melbourne Storm for the first time in his career when the NRL champions host Manly on Saturday night.

Slater is stepping in for suspended Storm skipper Smith and can use the AAMI Park match as an audition to also replace Smith as Queensland captain in next month’s State of Origin.

Slater, Greg Inglis, Matt Scott and Darius Boyd are in the mix to lead the Maroons with the opening Origin at the MCG on June 6.

Smith, who pleaded guilty to a dangerous contact charge, called time on his illustrious representative career on Tuesday.

“I have not done that yet in my career so it will be an honour,” Slater told SEN radio about being named captain.

“Obviously I’d love to have Cameron out there; I haven’t played much footy without Cam but it is something to look forward to which I have not done before.” Brandon Smith has been named as the replacement for Smith at hooker.

— with AAP