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 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.
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.
Forty Twenty
Guest
DCE was just about the best player in the comp that year. I saw him live at the start of that season but I couldn't comment either way because he wasn't good or bad. Then he fired up and started scoring long distance tries and running amok. Ponga isn't in such a good team , he'd be going ballistic behind some of the leading packs.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Very fair call Albo. He had massive wraps coming into first grade from Comm Bank Cup and he delivered straight away... Those early years he was going to be the greatest halfback of all time.
Emcie
Roar Guru
Probably didn't stand out as much as he could've in his first year playing on the wing. Would've made a great centre and by all reports was being groomed to replace Hodges
Albo
Guest
Come on you guys ! Look further south. The best ever rookie ever was Brandy Alexander ! And you could see him coming from his schoolboy days ( Commonwealth Bank Cup). Australian Schoolboys player of the year - 1983 Dally M Rookie of the year - 1984 Dally M Player of the year -1985
theHunter
Guest
Jarryd Hayne was a phenomenal rookie as well and eventually led Eels to a GF after a couple more years. Let's see Ponga try that with an average team as the team he is now. Certainly has the look of a very skilled player to achieve that. But can he?
The Barry
Roar Guru
Good one Matt... Jim Leis won rookie of the year in 1980, edging out in voting his magpies teammate Terry Lamb...
The Barry
Roar Guru
Yeah that was an horrendous injury and an absolute tragedy. I don’t really remember how good he was in his rookie year but he certainly kept getting better and better year by year.
matth
Guest
Another good call
The Barry
Roar Guru
When did that happen...?
no one in particular
Roar Guru
His not a rookie under NRL rules. He debuted in 2016, which meant 2017 was his final season of rookie eligibility under NRL rules
i miss the force
Guest
SBW not a good player? nothing you ever write should ever be taking with any substance
no one in particular
Roar Guru
Daly Cherry Evans made his debut in Round 1 2011. He finished that season as the first rookie halfback to win a premiership in over 30 years. So yeh, I think he may have been a better rookie
Aem
Guest
As pointed out already, Ponga is in no way a rookie - even under the looser, NRL definition of the term... he played 9 games before 2018 and debuted in 2016... either one of those individually would disqualify him. There's been some good suggestions in the comments so far, and I would add Shaun Johnson to the potential list - came into first grade for a team that had struggled in attack for the previous 5.5 years under Ivan Cleary and drove them to a grand final they frankly had no business being in. Just a shame the subsequent 6 years of his career have been wasted on bad coaches, poorly constructed rosters (the grand final team was gutted very quickly) and leg injuries.
RandyM
Guest
Ponga is frighteningly good for his level of experience. Lets hope he doesn't go to the Roosters or Broncos at least for another few seasons.
Emcie
Roar Guru
Jharal Yow Yeh - speed, strength, footwork, awareness and plenty of footy smarts. Had the potential to be an absolute superstar if his career wasn't cut short
Matt H
Roar Guru
Phil Blake and Darren Lockyer are both excellent calls. I would add Karmichael Hunt to the list. He is probably forgotten due to his chequered career since leaving the code. But in his debut year as a teenager, he started every game at fullback in a strong Broncos team. Does Alan Langer in 1988 qualify as a rookie? He had never played NRL before but had debuted in state of origin in 1987. Going way back, other players who had huge wraps in their first years (one went on and one didn't) were Steve Mortimer in 1978 (I think) and Jim Leis for Wests in the early 80's.
Matt H
Roar Guru
Another good call
Matt H
Roar Guru
Good call on Phil Blake
Jaime O'Donnell
Guest
No he doesn't.. Ponga debuted in 2016, and played a total of 9 1st grade games for Nth Qld. He is NOT eligible for Rookie of the year in 2018. Ash Taylor as you mentioned debuted for the Broncs in 2015, playing the final competition game. If I remember that game he broke his hand around the 20th minute mark. So, Ponga is a wonderfully talented young player who will star in years to come, he will not be getting any end of year accolades this season.
PNG Broncos fan88
Roar Guru
Broncos Rookie of the Year in 1995, at age 18 was a player of another level as well. Debuted off the bench while his team was trailing 14-6 at half time against the Eels. Came on at 5/8, and along with Langer destroyed Parramatta with 10 unanswered tries to win 60-14. Went on to break all appearances for club, state and country whilst being the best at fullback and 5/8 in his glittering 16 year first grade career. Off a similar mould to the Broncos legend in all round playing skillset - he is undoubtedly good now but can Ponga better Lockyer over the long run is the next question?