Reports have surfaced this week that Wallabies coach Michael Cheika personally reached out to Newcastle Knights star Kalyn Ponga, offering up the possibility of a code-switch to rugby union in the future.
This might seem like a genius move from Cheika to launch a raid on the highly sought-after star, but rugby league’s loss will also be no gain for Rugby Australia.
If the 21-year-old does make the unlikely switch, he’d be playing against the Wallabies, not for them.
For that reason alone, Cheika would be wise to stop pursuing him, for the sake of the Wallabies, even at the detriment of the game as a spectacle.
Ponga grew up in Queensland throughout most of his childhood, eventually moving to Brisbane to play 1st XV rugby at Anglican Church Grammar School in a side that contained eight future first-grade rugby union and league players, including Waratahs five-eighth Mack Mason, Reds forward Liam Wright, Melbourne Storm’s Brodie Croft and code-hopper Izaia Perese.
He’s played in the Australian rugby system as a junior and schoolboy, he’s expressed interest in the past to play union, and he’s lived most of his life in Australia. All ticks in the right boxes for a run with the Wallabies, right?
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Not quite.
It’s that last point that will be Cheika’s spanner in the works. He’s lived most of his life in Australia. But not all of it.
Kalyn Ponga, despite choosing to play for Queensland in State of Origin, is of New Zealand pedigree. His parents are both Kiwis and he lived in the nation across the ditch for five years during his younger years.
If he were to make the switch, it would be for the All Blacks. Cheika certainly needs no reminder that feeding a team like them even more talent would only bring more pain for Australian rugby.
“If I was to go back to union, I would want to strive for that black jumper,” Ponga told TVNZ just last year.
“I think it’s (playing for the All Blacks) the pinnacle. They are the best sporting organisation in the world, the stats have showed that.”
(AAP Image/ David Rowland)
As if arguably the most dominant team in sporting history need any more help. Just the thought of Ponga in a black 15 jumper is already haunting the dreams of any rugby fan that’s not from New Zealand.
For rugby as a sport, his acquisition would be a boon. For Cheika and Rugby Australia? Not so much.
The Wallabies boss would surely be aware of all of this though. So why pursue a player who could potentially harm your own side?
Maybe he thinks he can convince him to change his mind, shuffle his allegiances back across the ditch and don the gold. That would be the mother of all party tricks from the seasoned coach.
Maybe he’s just a genuine fan of rugby as a sport and wants to see the absolute best talent pool plying their trade in the sport he loves. He might be a coach, but he’s still a fan of the game.
Maybe he just knows something we don’t.
Whatever the reason, it looks to be a double-edged sword for Australian rugby and the Wallabies. Either rugby fails to nab one of their rival code’s biggest stars, or they risk gift-wrapping one of the most talented players in the world to the opposition.
rebel
Roar Guru
Like Angus' own words.
rebel
Roar Guru
Tut tut tut. No mention of the Yabbies? You've just had a whinge about this with Ponga then insinuate a private school poached a league player. One year and you've already forgotten his own words.
SR
Guest
Here you go. https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/kalyn-ponga-would-consider-switch-to-all-blacks-later-in-career-20180822-p4zz25.html I have yet to read an article where he personally espouses a switch to the Wallabies. The only articles I have read are about Cheika trying to persuade him to don green & gold, to which it appears he has not given the slightest ounce of interest. In fact all he's done is piss the other larger richer major code off so much that they would probably be happier if he went to anyone but the Wallabies if he were to make the switch. Therefore if it seems that if and when he makes the choice it'll be between the All Blacks or the NRL. Not the All Blacks, the NRL or The Wallabies.
rebel
Roar Guru
Surfing is still a subject and now rugby league is also.
rebel
Roar Guru
I went to school in Qld.
Dave
Guest
No the schools in the shire have it as an extra curricular activity. It doesn’t go towards the HSC, you can’t “study” surfing, there’s no curriculum for it
Maximus
Guest
Cheika enquires and some in the RL world go into meltdown - didnt Newcastle pinch him from NQ and what of the hundreds of Wallabies and others that have crossed form RU to RL for money over the years and of course all those islanders playing in the NRL never played RU!!!
Maximus
Guest
I'm not sure what this is about - undoubtedly every RL recruit that comes from NZ probably played RU at some stage if not solely but the money available to 700 NRL players is more than a good RU player in NZ can earn with the strength of the Aussie $ (normally) and lower Aussie tax rates and perhaps the lifestyle. In the same way every RU player Unless they went solely to private school from Year 3 probably played some RL ( especially in the bush) . Some are suited to Rugby, some league and some both - so what. Whatever they can probably have a longer career in Rugby and with more opportunities in Europe not to mention post football career possibilities.
mushi
Roar Guru
So you give the quotes… with out the context to prove they could not have been taken out of context?
mushi
Roar Guru
And luckily the all blacks have been traditionally short on decent back 3 players...
marty beauchamp
Roar Pro
Ponga doesn't seem to be the type of person to say things lightly, if I was a betting man I'd find a bookie offering odds on him playing in the black No.15 jersey in the next world cup
Bluesfan
Yip - that Sean Wainui/Shaun Stevenson are much much better than Folau according to you - notice how the Waratahs have found if difficult to score tries since he was dropped? Remind me what the core role of a winger exactly is - mmmm maybe scoring tries? If that's 55 year's of rugby experience showing that you would pick Wainui over Folau on the wing - well someone who has played about 35 odd Super matches and scored around 10 odd tries vs. someone who holds the all time trying scoring record for super rugby? Remind me again - what the key requirement of a winger is? Little idea - Think scoring tries might be high up on the list....
jacko
Guest
haha 15 yo school boy.......Is that it is it blues fan? Play the man dont bother with the genuine answer............This 15 yo school boy has over 55 years of rugby watching.........Is that it is it/ Disagree with you and i must be 15....Would love to be 15 again........You can have Folau I would rather have the 20 or so Wingers who know rugby.....Catching is only a small part..........
Jacko
Guest
Typical....Lose the arguement play the man.........love you to nerval
Jacko
Guest
AND YET IT ISNT the toughest TEAM sport on the planet.......Most head high team sport on the planet.....FOR SURE....
Phantom
Roar Rookie
I simply cannot think of a single kiwi that improved as a player by joining the premiership. I can think of many who improved the premiership by joining it.
Birdy
Roar Rookie
In Lewis' book he clearly states he played union to go on the European schoolboys tour . In his words he is rugby league end of story. Also ,like all of us who went to union schools, playing was compulsory.
Jacko
Guest
Nerval you are losing it....NZ Brainwashes their kids against league????? Like Aus does....AFL most popular in Aus...In England they brainwash their kids towards Soccer.....Brazil....Soccer.....You must really hate those Winter sport countries that BRAINWASH their kids into skiing!!!!...Very deluded comment bought on by jealousy
Insider
Roar Rookie
See you missed it again, here I’ll change the font TOUGHEST TEAM SPORT ON THE PLANET
Jacko
Guest
Nerval I know real facts pi$$ you off.....You dont like being so wrong....But you do keep writing rubbish....