Christy Doran
After leading the Knights to within a point of a drought-breaking NRL title last Sunday night, Kalyn Ponga should be exhausted and relaxing on the sand in Newcastle.
Instead, heโs the best part of 200 kilometres south at Coogee Beach with the Kiwi squad for the Rugby League World Cup, and thereโs nowhere else the New Zealand-raised fullback would rather be.
After a decade of waiting to reach the โpinnacleโ of rugby league, Ponga is set to make his debut for New Zealand in Thursdayโs World Cup opener against the Kangaroos at Sydneyโs Allianz Stadium.
Februaryโs landmark change to State of Origin eligibility came into effect on October 1, meaning Ponga, as well as Queensland Maroons and Knights teammate Dane Gagai, can cross to the โdark sideโ, as skipper James Fisher-Harris termed it, and pull on the Kiwi jersey for the first time.
It didnโt take long for the 28-year-old Ponga to be peppered about his decision to declare his allegiance to the Kiwis.
Asked whether it โfelt rightโ to be wearing the black and white across his chest, Ponga said there was nowhere else heโd rather be.
โThatโs a crazy question off the bat,โ said Ponga, who was born in Western Australia and lived in Queensland as a boy, before crossing the ditch with his New Zealand-born parents to live in Palmerston North.
โIt definitely feels right. Iโm excited about everything.
โTo go out there and represent where Iโm from, my family, my culture and the country, itโs pretty special.
โAs I got older, my sister probably influencing me, my family influencing me, but yeah, that connection to my culture has only gotten stronger. And it definitely feels right now.โ
Ponga might have dreamt of pulling on the All Blacks jersey rather than the Kiwi one when he was a kid, but the stars have finally aligned for him to enter the gameโs biggest stage.
โObviously, when youโre in New Zealand, back in the day, it was more the All Blacks,โ he said. โBut this one is just as special.
โIโve never played at the international level. Obviously, itโs the pinnacle of rugby league. And to do that now, I feel like the time is right in terms of my career as well โฆ it all feels like [the] timing is a big thing.โ
Ponga was reduced to tears when he helped fire the Knights into the NRL grand final late last month.
Whether thereโs a twinkle in his eye next week remains to be seen, but the proud Kiwi said he had no doubt it would be an emotional game for his family.
โI know my family will probably have tears in their eyes,โ he said. โObviously, doing the haka and everything before the game will be proud.โ
Ponga said spending time with the Mฤori All Stars during the past eight years only strengthened his desire to one day run out for the Kiwis.
โI think those experiences helps as well. Connecting to my culture is a journey for me,โ he said.
โIโve been in Australia for a while, but who I am is back home. Those camps were awesome for me; itโs like being back home for me. Itโs played its part in this journey.โ
Ponga is set to go head-to-head again with James Tedesco in a mouthwatering contest less than two weeks after his counterpart helped the Roosters sneak home 19-18 in the NRL grand final.
While Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters could opt for Reece Walsh in the Kangaroos No.1, leaving Tedesco out would be a massive call after the Roosters captain won the Clive Churchill Medal following his captainโs knock in the decider.
That selection headache, however, isnโt for Ponga.
Pongaโs eligibility has given the Kiwis a real shot in the arm and the Knights fullback admitted he was relishing playing behind a pack that will feature monster props Fisher-Harris, Moses Leota and the gameโs in-form and best young front-row talent, Naufahu Whyte.
โI love my Knights teammates, but Iโm very excited about the people that are in this room, in this team,โ he said.
Heโs not the only one either. Storm halfback Jahrome Hughes is set for his own international return after missing the past two years with injury. Hughes added that he was itching to link up with Ponga.
โIโve been lucky enough to play with and against a lot of top-tier fullbacks, but heโs right up there as well,โ the Storm halfback said.
โI think just coming off the back of a final series in a season like he had this year, itโs been right up there with the best that Iโve seen a fullback have.
โTo nearly take his team from wooden spoon right to a grand final, itโs truly special. And most of it was off the back of him.โ
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