Newcastle Knights sensation Kalyn Ponga anointed the game’s best player by his peers
NEWCASTLE Knights sensation Kalyn Ponga has capped off one of the best individual seasons in rugby league history by becoming the youngest ever recipient of The Players’ Champion.
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NEWCASTLE sensation Kalyn Ponga has capped off one of the best individual seasons in rugby league history by becoming the youngest ever recipient of The Players’ Champion.
The 20-year-old received the ultimate recognition from his peers at the Rugby League Players’ Association’s annual awards night, held at the picturesque Doltone House at Darling Island.
Ponga edged out a star-studded group of finalists that included Rabbitohs’ rake Damien Cook, Warriors skipper Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Sharks’ flyer Valentine Holmes and Storm playmaker Cameron Munster.
The Queensland Maroons representative was anointed the best performer of 2018 based on a revamped voting system that canvassed the views of more RLPA members than ever before.
Previous winners of The Players’ Champion include James Tedesco (2017), Jason Taumalolo (2016), Danny Buderus (2004) and Johnathan Thurston (2005,2013-15) — with the latter considering the award as “the highest individual accolade a player can receive.”
Your @RLPlayers Champion of the year!
— Hayley Byrnes (@HayleyByrnes) September 11, 2018
Kalyn Ponga! @NRLcom pic.twitter.com/e673GvRvXn
RLPA CEO Ian Prendergast congratulated Ponga on a stellar 2018 season, which included 20 appearances for the Newcastle Knights and a State of Origin debut.
“It’s incredible that at such a young age, Kalyn has already gained the recognition from his fellow players as the best performer in 2018,” Mr Prendergast said.
“Despite the Knights not making it through to the finals this season, Kalyn continued to put in dominant performances throughout in his first-year at the club.
“The RLPA membership have had their say and for a 20-year-old to be voted the best by his peers, it just shows what a prestigious talent the Newcastle custodian is.
“We have witnessed somewhat of a changing of the guard in 2018, with the emergence of young stars with plenty of character and a number of the game’s longest servants retiring.
“On behalf of the RLPA, I want to congratulate Kalyn and all other award recipients at tonight’s event.”
Sydney Roosters forward Victor Radley was named Rookie of the Year.
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