All Blacks interested in Ponga
NRL star Kalyn Ponga would be welcome in the All Blacks if he switched to rugby.
The Newcastle Knights fullback, 20, has indicated that one day he could be interested in playing the 15-man code and has his eyes set on the All Blacks if that’s the road he goes down.
Speaking yesterday, All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said he rated Ponga as a great talent and if he did make the move he would be someone they’d be interested in.
While the All Blacks haven’t targeted Ponga, who has Ma¯ori parents and spent part of his childhood growing up in Palmerston North, Hansen said he’s an admirer.
‘‘You’ve got to be aware of him,’’ Hansen said. ‘‘He’s a special player and I quite like watching league. I’ve got a son that plays it and therefore interested in it.
‘‘He’s had a super Origin. He’s a Kiwi boy and he’s just come out and said that maybe one day he might want to come out and play rugby.
‘‘If that’s his choice when he makes that choice, then of course whoever is around at that time would definitely be interested, because he’s a talented athlete.’’
The Perth-born Ponga did play the 15-man code when younger and this week told TVNZ that he’d target a black jersey if he did convert.
‘‘Obviously, that [playing for the All Blacks] would be a huge goal, if I was to come back to union I’d want to tick,’’ Ponga told TVNZ. ‘‘But I’m not too sure what my future holds whether I’m going to stay in league or change codes. But if I was to go back to rugby union I’d probably want to strive for that black jumper, it’s the pinnacle.’’
Going to the All Blacks would be a major snub for the Wallabies, who would clearly want a player of Ponga’s talent.
It would also be a major snub towards the Kiwis. Ponga was part of the Kiwis’ train-on squad in 2015, when Stephen Kearney was the coach.
New Zealand Rugby League pulled out all of the stops to convince Ponga to play for the Kiwis rather than State of Origin and the Kangaroos, but he eventually chose the route where he could earn more money.
Hansen isn’t the type of old school rugby coach who turns his nose up at rugby league. There are two former NRL players in the current All Blacks squad in Sonny Bill Williams and Ngani Laumape, while Nehe MilnerSkudder played for the Bulldogs’ under-20 team.
‘‘I watch all sport, I probably watch more sport than I do rugby,’’ Hansen said. ‘‘I get to see rugby every Saturday, so it’s nice to be able to look at something different and pinch their ideas.’’
‘‘If I was to go back to rugby union I’d probably want to strive for that black jumper, it’s the pinnacle.’’ NRL star Kalyn Ponga, left playing for Queensland.