Queensland have received a blow to their hopes of avoiding a State of Origin series whitewash after youngster Kalyn Ponga was ruled out of game three with a hamstring injury.

Newcastle said on Sunday that the 20-year-old Maroons bench utility had suffered a lateral hamstring strain in their NRL loss to Canterbury and would be sidelined for three to four weeks.

It is a blow to the Maroons leading into the July 11 dead rubber in Brisbane. They are set to announce their team at 7pm on Sunday night.