Rugby league great Billy Slater has given a firm piece of advice to young talent Kalyn Ponga ‑ forget the All Blacks and become a Queensland great.

Slater told the Sydney Morning Herald he has been working with Ponga in the lead up to tonight's State of Origin opener with the young star taking over the No.1 jersey, Slater donned for years.

But how long Ponga plays for the Maroons is up in the air after the 21‑year‑old told TVNZ1's Marae last year he also has dreams of swapping codes and playing for the All Blacks.

Queensland play New South Wales at 10 tonight.

[Source:TV NZ]

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