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Kalyn Ponga on the cusp of a stunning rugby league career

26th September, 2018
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26th September, 2018
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Eight years ago Kalyn Ponga was New Zealand’s under-13 golf champion while he was also playing rugby league, rugby union, soccer, touch football and hockey.

Last night, at 20, Ponga was runner-up to Roger Tuivasa-Sheck for the coveted Dally M Medal, and he’s only played 29 NRL games in his life.

If he hadn’t had his ankle in a moon boot for the last two rounds, Ponga would have had the medal around his neck last night.

He led by a point with a round to go, but Tuivasa-Sheck blew the Knight away with a three-pointer for the Warriors.

Which begs the question, how much better will Kalyn Ponga be as his experience grows among the rugby league elite?

The sky is the limit.

To prove the point, here is the top ten in the Dally M count – along with the amount of NRL games they’ve played.

29 points – Roger Tuivasa-Skeck (Warriors) – 136.
27 – Kalyn Ponga (Knights) – 29.
26 – Luke Brooks (Wests-Tigers) – 107.
25 – Valentine Holmes (Sharks) – 104.
23 – Mitchell Pearce (Knights) – 253.
19 – Jason Taumololo (Cowboys) – 153.
19 – Cameron Munster (Storm) – 87
18 – Ashley Taylor (Titans) – 68
18 – Damien Cook (South Sydney) – 73
18 – Isaac Luke (Warriors) – 254.

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Barring further injuries, there’s no doubt the head-geared Ponga – who can play fullback, centre, and five-eighth with equal ability of gifted hands, express speed, and deft footwork – will be another strong contender for the 2019 Dally M, and beyond.

Kalyn Ponga

Kalyn Ponga playing State of Origin. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

But for the moment the honours rest with Tuivasa-Sheck, highlighted by an impromptu haka from Isaac Luke, Jamayne Isaako, Esan Masters, and Jordan Rapana to celebrate the Warriors’ first Dally M. He’s the first fullback to win the award since Ben Barba in 2012.

The haka also highlighted the rise in Polynesian talent in the NRL with five of the top ten – Tuivasa-Sheck is Samoan, Ponga is Maori, Holmes is Cook Island and Maori, Taumololo is Tongan, and Luke is Maori-Irish.

But there was one very hard to understand aspect from last night, highlighted with the vast difference in the two major awards: the Dally M (best player) and the Provan Summons (most popular).

The fans have their say with the Provan Summons Medal. It went to Rabbitoh Damien Cook.

But how could Cook be 11 points, and seven places, behind Tuivasa-Sheck in the Dally M count?

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Either Rabbitoh fans voted in a huge block, or the NRL judges didn’t give enough recognition to the vastly-improved hooker.

But it was hard to fault the glittering evening at Sydney’s Overseas Terminal at Circular Quay brilliantly hosted by Yvonne Sampson.

There was one hiccup, however. The recently-retired Sam Thaiday made his debut as a comedian on national television and it went off like a lead balloon.

Damn shame that after such a great career for the Broncos, Maroons, and the Kangaroos.

Horses for courses, Sam.

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