QLD Maroons & NSW Blues; Haumole Olakau’atu set to be axed by NSW; Bradman Best and Kalyn Ponga set for recalls; Murray Taulagi ruled out for Maroons

Billy Slater said he has considered picking a Reed Mahoney or AJ Brimson as a potential back-up to Harry Grant.

The Maroons utility is in some doubt as he battles a sternum niggle that has kept him out of the Storm’s last two matches.

Slater also said it was that utility role Ponga was under consideration for,

“Those guys have been doing a fantastic job,” he said of Mahoney and Brimson on Nine’s Sunday Footy Show.

“AJ Brimson hasn’t played for a long time. Kalyn Ponga is expected to play this afternoon, and Reed Mahoney made 69 tackles on the weekend. 

“(Mahoney) has done a great job and is a big part of what the Bulldogs are doing there defensively.”