Kalyn Ponga will be hoping it stays that way.

News that Holmes is returning to Australia after his one-season NFL stint with New York Jets sets the stage for an enthralling duel with Ponga for the No.1 Maroons jersey.

After Origin I this year, when Ponga set up two tries and kicked three goals from four attempts in Queensland's 18-14 victory, it seemed reasonable to assume he would be the state's last line of defence for many years to come.

But the dynamic 21-year-old experienced something of a reality check when NSW hit back to win game two 38-6 in Perth, then missed the series decider through injury.

Despite finishing as Newcastle's leading tryscorer for the season, with 11, he was not listed among the five nominees for the Dally M fullback of the year award, won by Roosters champion James Tedesco.

The judging panel felt Canberra's Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Parramatta's Clinton Gutherson, Melbourne's Jahrome Hughes and Warriors skipper Roger Tuivasa-Sheck all had stronger seasons.

At his best, Ponga is as good as or better than any of them. His challenge is to be at his best on a more consistent basis.

The return of Holmes, who is expected to sign a multi-million dollar deal this week with North Queensland Cowboys, might be just what is needed to take Ponga's game to the next level.

If Holmes can recapture the form he showed before his NFL fling then Queensland coach Kevin Walters will face a selection quandary in choosing his custodian for next year's Origin campaign.

Holmes has scored eight tries in five Origins on the wing. In 12 Tests for Australia on the wing, he has crossed the stripe 17 times, including five tries against Samoa and six tries against Fiji at the 2017 World Cup.

But at fullback he is arguably even more dangerous.

He was in such hot form at Cronulla in 2018, when he scored 22 tries in 26 games, that he forced coach Shane Flanagan to pick Josh Dugan in the centres and Matt Moylan at five-eighth.

He also kicks goals at almost 74 per cent - not far behind Ponga's career strike rate of 77 per cent.

The Cowboys won't be paying top dollar for Holmes to play on the wing.

He'll be fullback and, as long as his code-crossing transition back is a smooth one, he will also be somewhere in the Queensland squad.

Whether he's at the back or on the edge will depend largely on Ponga.

The ideal scenario for Walters will be to have both in the team. What a luxury.

For that to happen, Ponga will have to be playing at close to the same level as Holmes, week in, week out.

He's certainly capable of doing so, and perhaps now he has a rival who will push him to new heights.

Ponga has already provided myriad highlights in his 49-game NRL career. Knights fans might soon find out how good he really is.