Kalyn Ponga has 11 screws and a plate in the arm he broke less than a month ago, but he would love nothing more than to finish 2026 with a little bit more metal if it means the Kiwis win the World Cup.
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It’s been a remarkable year for the superstar fullback who carried the Knights to the grand final and then made his New Zealand debut thanks to a major change in eligibility rules.
But his World Cup dream appeared to be over on October 15 when he broke his left arm in the tournament opener against Australia having starred with two tries on the night.
Instead, Ponga told Kiwis coach Stacey Jones that night that he would return, with the fullback setting up three tries in wild conditions in Newcastle on Saturday as his side booked a spot in the final with a big win over Tonga.
“It was awesome,” he said after his return game.
“I had a taste of it that first game and I’ve been watching from the sidelines the last couple of weeks, but I just wanted to do my job out there. I was pretty confident I could do that, and I’m glad I did.
“I feel fine. My body actually feels pretty good, and my arm felt really good. I got hit a couple of times, and I haven’t been hit like that for a while, but my body is fine.”
You could see the scars running up and down his left arm, with Ponga revealing exactly how much work doctors had to do.
“I think there are 11 screws and a plate in there,” he said.
“They called it a butterfly fracture. There’s a little bit more to it, but it healed really well.”
Getting back on the field after 23 days feels like a medical miracle, but the precedent was set last year by New Zealand halfback Jahrome Hughes, who returned for the Storm from a similar injury after 22 days.
That was all Ponga needed to know.
“Someone told me that someone else came back in three weeks. I like a challenge, and that was the pitch,” he said.
“The only thing I heard in my head was ‘someone else did it, so I can do it’.
“Hughesy gave me the confidence because he did it, so I was talking to him a lot.
“Honestly, it was completely fine. I didn’t feel it at all out there. I think my lungs were hurting more than anything. Having a good physio, being around the boys, and having a good prep for tonight was the process for me.”
While his attacking plays will make the highlight reels, Ponga’s defence won New Zealand the game with three try-saving tackles at the back including a ridiculous hit on the much bigger Demitric Vaimauga.
“Given the way our finals run unfolded and the pressure we had to withstand, we did a lot of practice in that area,” he said after the Knights built their run to the grand final on desperate defence.
“I’ve been watching a lot of footage. I think Dylan Edwards is probably the main guy I watch in that area; his work ethic off the ball and his positioning are probably the best in the game. I’m trying to be a complete fullback.”
Ponga will renew his rivalry with Aussie fullback Reece Walsh after their epic battle last month, with the Kiwis star 80 minutes away from capping off a dream year with a World Cup crown.
“He doesn’t feel like this is fair odds” | 00:27
“It’d be awesome,” he said after going so close with the Knights.
“They’re different goals, and as soon as you get into this camp, you almost forget about what happened in the past. You’re just so wired to chase what’s next.
“It’s such a reward not only for this team that’s been together for so long but for the country as well.
“I’ve bided my time, and I always felt like this was the right decision for me. I’ve had a lot of backlash for that, but at the end of the day, it’s who I am. It’s my culture, so I’m extremely proud to be in this position and to be playing in the World Cup next week.”
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