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By Michael Burgess in Brisbane
From the first day Kalyn Ponga arrived in camp last month, the Kiwis hierarchy knew they were on to a winner.
While everyone was aware of Ponga’s immense talents – and the season he was coming off with the Newcastle Knights – no one was
completely sure how he would fit into the environment, especially since most of the group had been together for years.
Ponga is a bona fide superstar, one of the highest-paid and highest-profile players in the sport. Sometimes such introductions are complicated, but any doubts were allayed immediately.
“He fitted in straight away,” a team insider observed. “You wouldn’t think it was his first campaign with the Kiwis. He’s a humble guy, with his values and the way he goes about things. There was alignment with the leaders, the team from the first minute he walked in.”
That continued into the first training sessions in Sydney, along with the way he quickly built a relationship with Keano Kini, who was the incumbent fullback and his competition for the No 1 jersey.
“He’s a team guy,” a New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) staffer said. “There’s no ego.”
Things couldn’t have worked out better. Ponga has become one of the stories of the tournament, while also collecting the men’s Golden Boot award on Thursday.
“Man, we love to have him,” Kiwis second-rower Briton Nikora told the Herald.
“Just the way he goes about his business is crazy really. He’s a chilled-out guy, relaxed and calm and then freakish on the field. That rubs off on us too.”
Marathon pursuit
Getting Kalyn Jay Ponga into a Kiwis jersey has been a long time coming. It’s easy to forget but the pursuit of Ponga has been a marathon since he first attended a Kiwis training session 11 years ago. He was invited into camp by then-coach Stephen Kearney in 2015 as a 17-year-old, rooming with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck for the weekend.
“It’s been an eye-opener for me, to get around the boys,” said the beaming teenager, then in the Cowboys NYC squad, in a brief chat to media at Mt Smart stadium. “They are people that I look up to and I’m pretty fortunate to get the opportunity to be around them.”
Back then Ponga was one of the most in-demand athletes in Australasian sport, chased by NRL clubs, Super Rugby teams and AFL outfits, before signing with the Cowboys. He seemed torn about his representative options, turning down approaches from the Junior Kiwis and Junior Kangaroos in 2016, before declaring allegiance to Queensland in 2018. That seemed the end of the road, especially when Ponga represented Australia in the 2019 World Nines tournament.
But he never forgot his roots and famously turned down a Kangaroos jersey in 2024 in the hope of keeping his options open. NZRL worked behind the scenes, lobbying for change to the State of Origin regulations and eligibility rules. A flashpoint came last May, when the International Rugby League (IRL) approved AJ Brimson’s switch to England, after the Gold Coast fullback had also featured at the World Nines for Australia.
That was the catalyst for more Ponga discussions. NZRL petitioned the IRL, while Ponga and his management also put their case. There were also, the Herald understands, direct conversations with NRL supremo Peter V’Landys and the player. In March the door was opened, with Ponga’s potential switch granted. NZRL had brief conversations with Ponga but wanted to let him focus on State of Origin, before receiving the news after the series.
“That was a big day in the office,” a staffer recalled.
Culture and connection
It’s also been a journey for Ponga. He is proud of his Kiwi roots, through his parents – Andre and Adine – who were born here, along with most of the extended family. Ponga lived in Palmerston North from the age of 8 until 13, excelling in several sports, before the family returned to Western Australia, later settling in Queensland.
Insiders say he has connected more with his culture in the past few years, from his time with the Māori All Stars team in 2025 and also driven by his younger sister, Kayley.
“It opened his eyes,” one insider said.
On the field, Ponga hasn’t missed a beat. He had less than a week to learn the plays, offensive tactics and defensive structure but it was duck-to-water stuff, as he was a controlling figure in the backline in the opening match against Australia, even with the horrific injury suffered early in the second half. Then came the suspense around his operation and possible comeback. It seemed unlikely, before the Hollywood-style return against Tonga last Saturday.
Instant impression
Across the long history of the Kiwis, there haven’t been many to make such an instant impression. You can think of teenage Dennis Williams scoring with his first touch in 1971, or Clayton Friend against Australia in 1985. There was Kevin Iro in 1987 – the unknown kid from the Mt Albert Lions terrorising the Kangaroos at Lang Park – or Stacey Jones in 1995.
There was Matthew Ridge, a big star picked for the Kiwis after a few appearances for Manly, or Benji Marshall bringing the greatest sidestep the league world had ever seen. Or what about the rocket-heeled Shaun Johnson, or Jason Taumalolo steamrolling everyone in his wake in 2014.
But perhaps no one has turned heads so quickly – among general sports fans as well as diehard league followers – because his grand entrance has come at a World Cup, the biggest possible stage. That’s evident here in Brisbane, as he is one of the main topics of conversation when talking about the final with locals.
It’s been a boon for New Zealand rugby league, off and on the field, as a new generation of kids want to be Ponga, just like those who once idolised Jones, Marshall or Johnson.
“His footy sums him up,” Nikora says. “What he does out on the field, all the effort stuff but then the freakish things that he pulls out. It’s just stuff you can’t coach and it’s great to have him on our team.”
Michael Burgess has been a Sports Journalist for the New Zealand Herald since 2005, covering the Olympics, Fifa World Cups, and America’s Cup campaigns. He is a co-host of the Big League podcast.
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