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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.<\/p>\n
Instead, he\u2019s the best part of 200 kilometres south at Coogee Beach with the Kiwi squad for the Rugby League World Cup, and there\u2019s nowhere else the New Zealand-raised fullback would rather be.<\/p>\n
After a decade of waiting to reach the \u201cpinnacle\u201d of rugby league, Ponga is set to make his debut for New Zealand in Thursday\u2019s World Cup opener against the Kangaroos at Sydney\u2019s Allianz Stadium.<\/p>\n
February\u2019s 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 \u201cdark side\u201d, as skipper James Fisher-Harris termed it, and pull on the Kiwi jersey for the first time.<\/p>\n
It didn\u2019t take long for the 28-year-old Ponga to be peppered about his decision to declare his allegiance to the Kiwis.<\/p>\n
Asked whether it \u201cfelt right\u201d to be wearing the black and white across his chest, Ponga said there was nowhere else he\u2019d rather be.<\/p>\n
![\"Kalyn](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/9c251490e37f1bcd0ace61fd68d06a901dff692a.jpeg\")
Kalyn Ponga addresses the media on Friday.George Chan<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a crazy question off the bat,\u201d 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt definitely feels right. I\u2019m excited about everything.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo go out there and represent where I\u2019m from, my family, my culture and the country, it\u2019s pretty special.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Kayln](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/a5531fa6730fa16bb34d7103727caf80a3db221c.jpeg\")
Kayln Ponga speaks ahead of his international debut for New Zealand.George Chan<\/p>\n
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 game\u2019s biggest stage.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously, when you\u2019re in New Zealand, back in the day, it was more the All Blacks,\u201d he said. \u201cBut this one is just as special.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve never played at the international level. Obviously, it\u2019s the pinnacle of rugby league. And to do that now, I feel like the time is right in terms of my career as well \u2026 it all feels like [the] timing is a big thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ponga was reduced to tears when he helped fire the Knights into the NRL grand final late last month.<\/p>\n
![\"Ponga](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/edbe7dabb84b72b1b035b9010797d021d38affc6.jpeg\")
Ponga celebrates his grand final try for Newcastle.Audrey Richardson<\/p>\n
Whether there\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know my family will probably have tears in their eyes,\u201d he said. \u201cObviously, doing the haka and everything before the game will be proud.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ponga said spending time with the M\u0101ori All Stars during the past eight years only strengthened his desire to one day run out for the Kiwis.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think those experiences helps as well. Connecting to my culture is a journey for me,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
![\"James](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/48eac106ea0478721306ee328d0f565002f93c12.jpeg\")
James Fisher-Harris will lead a powerful Kiwi side in the 2026 Rugby League World Cup.Getty Images<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been in Australia for a while, but who I am is back home. Those camps were awesome for me; it\u2019s like being back home for me. It\u2019s played its part in this journey.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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 captain\u2019s knock in the decider.<\/p>\n
That selection headache, however, isn\u2019t for Ponga.<\/p>\n
Ponga\u2019s 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 game\u2019s in-form and best young front-row talent, Naufahu Whyte.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love my Knights teammates, but I\u2019m very excited about the people that are in this room, in this team,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
![\"Melbourne](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/8240d82538b6a5539f9c3fb5ccbd4ada8ce6bc08.jpeg\")
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