Kalyn Ponga facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Kalyn Ponga

Personal information
Born	(1998-03-30) 30 March 1998 (age 27) Port Hedland, Western Australia, Australia
Height	184 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	92 kg (14 st 7 lb)
Playing information
Position	Fullback, Five-eighth
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 2016–17 North Qld Cowboys 9 3 0 0 12 2018– Newcastle Knights 124 51 235 0 674 Total 133 54 235 0 686 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 2018–24 Queensland 8 1 4 0 12 2019–20 Māori All Stars 2 0 4 0 8 2019 Australia 9s 5 1 0 0 5
As of 14 September 2024

Kalyn Ponga (born 30 March 1998) is an Australian professional rugby league player. He is the captain and plays as a fullback (fullback) for the Newcastle Knights in the National Rugby League (NRL). In 2023, he won the prestigious Dally M Medal, which is given to the best player in the NRL.

Before joining the Knights, Ponga played for the North Queensland Cowboys. He has also represented his state, Queensland, in the exciting State of Origin series. He has also played for the Māori All Stars. Sometimes, he plays as a five-eighth (five-eighth) or started his career as a wing (winger).

Kalyn Ponga's Early Life and Talents

Kalyn Ponga was born in Port Hedland, Western Australia. His parents are from New Zealand, and he has Māori family roots through his father. He lived in different places like Newman and Mount Isa in Australia.

When he was 8, his family moved to Palmerston North, New Zealand. Kalyn was very good at many sports, including rugby league, touch football, hockey, rugby union, golf, and soccer. In 2010, he even won New Zealand's national golf championship for kids under 13!

Moving Back to Queensland

In 2011, when Kalyn was 13, his family moved back to Mackay, Australia. He went to Mackay State High School and was part of their Rugby League Academy. He also played junior rugby league for Souths Mackay.

In 2012, at just 14 years old, he was chosen for the Australian Schoolboys under-15 team. This was a big achievement, as he was only the second 14-year-old ever to make that team.

Choosing a Sport

In 2013, Kalyn moved to Brisbane and attended Anglican Church Grammar School. He played rugby union for his school and rugby league for the Easts Tigers. He made the Australian Schoolboys under-15 team again. He also started playing Australian rules football and was noticed by the Brisbane Lions team.

In December 2013, when he was 15, Kalyn signed a four-year contract with the North Queensland Cowboys. Many clubs from different sports wanted him, including other NRL teams, a rugby union team, and the Brisbane Lions. He chose rugby league with the Cowboys. The Lions even tried to sign him again later, but he stuck with rugby league.

Kalyn Ponga's Professional Rugby League Journey

Starting with the Cowboys

Kalyn Ponga played for the North Queensland Cowboys in the Holden Cup (an under-20s competition) from 2015 to 2017. He played 44 games, scoring 32 tries and kicking 42 goals.

In 2015, he played for the Townsville Stingers and represented Australia in under-18s touch football. He also made his debut in the NYC for the Cowboys. He finished that year as the team's starting fullback.

NRL Debut and Big Move

In 2016, Kalyn was selected for the Queensland under-20s team. He also played in a trial game for the Cowboys' main team, scoring a try.

On 16 September 2016, Kalyn made his first-grade NRL debut for the Cowboys. It was a big moment because he played in a finals match against the Brisbane Broncos. He was one of only a few players since 1987 to start their NRL career in a finals game.

In November 2016, it was announced that Kalyn had signed a four-year contract with the Newcastle Knights, starting in 2018. This was a very exciting move, and it was reported that he would be one of the highest-paid teenagers in NRL history.

Shining for the Cowboys in 2017

In 2017, Kalyn played in the 2017 NRL Auckland Nines tournament for North Queensland. He scored five tries and was named in the team of the tournament. He played his first NRL game at fullback for the Cowboys in Round 3. He scored his first NRL try in Round 4 against the Gold Coast Titans. He was named man of the match in Round 8 against the Newcastle Knights, scoring two tries.

Ponga mid-air for the North Queensland Cowboys in 2017

He was named in the NYC Team of the Year for the second year in a row.

Joining the Newcastle Knights in 2018

In January 2018, Kalyn confirmed he would play for Queensland and Australia if chosen. In Round 1 of the 2018 NRL season, he made his debut for the Knights. He scored a try and kicked three goals, helping his new team win in extra time.

In June 2018, Kalyn made his State of Origin debut for Queensland. He came off the bench and played a great game, making many tackles and almost scoring a try. Many people, including former rugby league star Andrew Johns, called it one of the best Origin debuts ever.

Key Moments from 2019-2022

In 2019, Kalyn was chosen for the Australian team for the 2019 Rugby League World Cup 9s and the Junior Australian side.

In June 2020, he extended his contract with Newcastle until the end of 2024.

In 2021, Kalyn had some fantastic games for the Knights. He scored two tries and was man of the match against Cronulla-Sutherland and North Queensland. He also returned to the Queensland Origin team for Game 3, helping them win and avoid a series whitewash.

Ponga testing the Parramatta Eels defensive line in 2021

Ponga on defensive duties against Parramatta in 2021

In April 2022, Kalyn signed a new five-year contract with the Knights, keeping him at the club until the end of 2027. In July, he was man of the match in the deciding Game 3 of the 2022 State of Origin series. He had an amazing game, running almost 300 metres and scoring a try that helped Queensland win the series. Later that year, he was ruled out for the rest of the season due to a concussion.

2023: Dally M Medal Winner

The 2023 season started tough for Kalyn. In Round 2, he had a concussion early in the game. This was his fourth concussion in ten months. He went to Canada for special tests to make sure he was okay to keep playing, and luckily, the tests showed no brain damage.

After a short break, he returned in Round 8. The Knights had a slow start to the season, but Kalyn helped them turn things around. They won nine games in a row, moving from 14th to 5th place on the ladder. Kalyn scored 9 tries in 20 games. The team won their first finals game but lost the next, ending their season.

At the end of the 2023 season, Kalyn Ponga won the prestigious Dally M Medal. This award names him the best player in the NRL for that year. He was also named the Fullback of the Year.

2024 Season Challenges

In 2024, Kalyn faced more injury challenges. After a game in Round 6, it was reported he had a hip injury. He tried to play in Round 7 but also picked up a foot injury during the game. He had to leave the field, and it was later announced that he would be out of action for a while due to the foot injury.

Achievements and Accolades

Individual Awards

• NYC Team of the Year: 2016, 2017
• 2023 Dally M Medal Medalist
• 2023 Fullback of the Year

Statistics

NRL Career Stats

Season	Team	Matches	Tries	Goals	Assists	Field Goals	Points
2016	North Queensland Cowboys	2	0	0	0	0	0
2017		7	3	0	0	0	12
2018	Newcastle Knights	20	6	27	11	0	78
2019		20	11	48	9	0	140
2020		19	10	46	14	0	132
2021		15	8	10	14	0	52
2022		14	4	12	6	0	40
2023		20	9	54	21	0	144
2024		16	3	46			104
2025
Career totals		133	53	235	75	0	686