In the 2011–12 season, Porter continued as third choice, making five replacement appearances in the 2011–12 Pro12, the league having been renamed. Porter took a one-year sabbatical from playing the following season and did not feature for Ulster, returning in 2013. He returned from his long absence with an appearance from the bench against Newport Gwent Dragons in the 2013–14 Pro12 on 6 September 2013. Porter made his first-ever senior start for the province the following week against Glasgow Warriors. Porter left Ulster at the end of the 2013–14 season.