Kalyn Ponga's Road to 100 NRL Games

Author: Newcastle Knights
Timestamp: Fri 21 Apr 2023, 07:22 AM

nib Newcastle Knights Co-Captain and five-eighth Kalyn Ponga is set to notch a major milestone in the game.

After bursting onto the scene as a teenager at the North Queensland Cowboys in 2016, 'KP' moved to Newcastle two years later and hasn't taken a backward step.

In his 91 games for the Knights (nine for the Cowboys), Kalyn has scored 42 tries, kicked 143 goals, played for his state, claimed two Danny Buderus Medals and captained the mighty red and blue.

It has been an already incredible career with many more chapters to be written, so here is Kalyn Ponga's journey so far and his road to 100 NRL games:

2016

- After spending two seasons playing in the National Youth Competition (NYC) for the North Queensland Cowboys, Ponga made his NRL debut in sensational circumstances.

- Selected on the wing, the then 18-year-old played his first game for the Cowboys in their Semi Final showdown against the Brisbane Broncos.

- Ponga almost scored an incredible solo try with his first touch of the game, while the side went onto win 26-20 in extra-time.

- Kalyn's second game in the top grade was against the Cronulla Sharks in a Preliminary Final, in which the Cowboys lost to the eventual premiers.

- Having played the majority of the season in the under 20's competition, Ponga was named in the NYC's team of the year at fullback.

- In November, Kalyn signed with the Newcastle Knights, beginning in 2018.

2017

- Ponga made a huge impression in the pre-season Auckland Nines competition showcasing his flair and speed, and was selected in the team of the tournament.

- 'KP' played his first game of the season in a Round 3 loss to Manly before scoring his maiden first-grade try only a round later against the Gold Coast Titans.

- He put in a man of the match performance against his future Club, the Knights, in Round 8 scoring two tries in a 24-12 win for North Queensland.

- Ponga returned to the NYC competition and was named in the team of the year for the second season in a row.

2018

- Ponga arrived to Newcastle in 2018, and set out on taking the rugby league world by storm.

- He made his Club debut against the Manly Sea Eagles in Round 1, scoring his first try after only four minutes.

- Producing scintillating form, 'KP' made his State of Origin debut for Queensland in Game II of the 2018 series.

- After only 24 NRL games, Ponga became the player with the least amount of NRL games to debutise for the Maroons since 2002.

- Coming off the interchange bench and playing out of position in the middle of the park, Ponga made 29 tackles and made a line-break late in the match, almost scoring a clutch try on his debut game.

- Ponga played 20 games for Newcastle in '18 and scored 78 points (six tries, 27 goals), produced 11 try-assists and totalled 2,855 running metres.

- His stellar season was recognised by his peers with the fullback winning the Rugby League Players Association (RLPA) Player's Champion award, the youngest player to ever win it.

- Kalyn also took home the Club's prestigious Danny Buderus Medal for Player of the Year and also won Player's Player at the end of season awards night.

- He also went close to becoming only the third Knights player in history to win the Dally M Award, finishing second, and only two points, behind winner Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.

2019

- Off the back of his breakout campaign the year before, Ponga backed it up with another terrific season in 2019.

- 'KP' played a huge role in the side which won five-straight games in the middle of the year.

- His form led to his selection at fullback for Queensland in Game I, in which he set up two tries and kicked three goals in the 18-14 win for the Maroons.

- After NSW won Game II, an injury ruled him out of the decider.

- In the red and blue, Kalyn played 20 games and scored 140 points (11 tries, 48 goals), notched nine try-assists and made 105 tackle breaks.

- The side just missed out on the finals for the second straight season, finishing in 11th.

- Later in the year, Ponga was selected in the Australian Rugby League World Cup 9's squad which won the inaugural competition.

2020

- Ponga played a significant role in the Knights breaking their finals drought in 2020.

- The fullback only missed two games during the shortened season to score 132 points (10 tries, 46 goals), provide 14 try-assists and run for a staggering 3,502 metres with ball in hand.

- Ponga scored his first hat-trick for the Club in a 38-10 win over Cronulla in Round 17.

- With the side finishing in seventh spot, Kalyn played in his first finals game for the Knights in the side's Elimination Final loss to South Sydney.

- At the end of year awards night, Ponga earned his second Danny Buderus Medal for Player of the Year.

- An injury in the finals saw Kalyn ruled out of the State of Origin series at the end of the season.

2021

- In 2021, Ponga continued to showcase his dynamic abilities in his 15 appearances with a combined try-involvement of 22 for the year.

- It was a tumultuous start to the campaign with the fullback recovering from off-season shoulder surgery, resulting in him missing the first four games.

- Ponga made a brilliant comeback and returned to his usual form.

- The No.1 also made a return to the State of Origin arena and produced a standout performance in Queensland's Game III victory.

- Back in Newcastle, Ponga topped the Club charts for try-assists with 14 for the campaign while scoring eight of his own.

- Kalyn also added another major achievement to his already illustrious career, captaining the Club for the first time against the Brisbane Broncos in Round 21.

- The Knights finished in seventh and Ponga played in his second finals appearance for the Knights in the Elimination Final loss to Parramatta.