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Ponga is the best rookie of the modern era

Kalyn Ponga of the Knights. (Photo by Tony Feder/Getty Images)
Roar Pro
23rd May, 2018
29

Kalyn Ponga has lit up the NRL in 2018 and many good judges have been singing his praises, even comparing his impact to some of the game’s best rookies.

I am going a step further and declaring the young Queenslander the best rookie to emerge in the modern era. He has shot to favouritism for the Dally M medal on the back of some sublime displays.

Kalyn Ponga

Kalyn Ponga of the Knights. (Photo by Tony Feder/Getty Images)

To justify this declaration I am going to compare Ponga to three of the best rookies rugby league has ever seen – Sonny Bill Williams, Brad Fittler and Israel Folau.

He beats Folau hands down as he is playing in a more dominant position at fullback and much of Folau’s brilliance was based on his aerials from kicks. Hundreds of wingers have since mastered that art.

I am going to say his rookie year compares favourably to Fittler’s because Freddy was a centre at a very strong Penrith club. He had brilliant moments that will never be forgotten but his rookie year was not near as consistent as Ponga’s and Kalyn is at a club coming off three wooden spoons.

Probably Ponga’s nearest rival for best rookie would be Williams, who was an unstoppable force when he debuted at the Bulldogs in 2004. He played in the back row in a team that won the premiership that same year.

The team featured representative stars Steve Price, Mark O’Meley, Willie Mason, Reni Maitua and Andrew Ryan – Price missed the grand final through injury yet Williams came off the bench.

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There is no way Nathan Brown would be benching his version of a Ferrari in a big game. Not for a Newcastle minute. In recent times coaches have almost outlawed running bad lines across field, Ponga has made it sexy again. His goose steps are a throwback to the very best days of Benji Marshall or Shaun Johnson.

Based on consistency you would have him before either of those two, who were also phenomenal rookie talents.

Ponga wins in a knockout.

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