‘I don’t feel like I have earned that yet’: Kalyn Ponga makes shock call to skip Pacific Championships

Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga has one less thing to worry about with a leading candidate ruling himself out of the Pacific Championships.

Reigning Dally M Medal winner Kalyn Ponga has made himself unavailable for the end-of-year Pacific Championships, with the superstar fullback focused on ending Newcastle’s premiership drought.

The Knights made the announcement on the club’s website on Tuesday afternoon, with Ponga to skip the Tests which begin on October 18 when the Kangaroos host Tonga in Brisbane.

Ponga could have elevated his game alongside Australia’s best players, but his focus now shifts to the Knights where he wants to tick off some major goals which includes ending Newcastle’s 23-year premiership drought.

“I want to win a comp, for me anything short of that isn’t success,” Ponga said having missed three months with a serious foot injury.

“My focus has never shifted from wanting to win a premiership with the Knights – that has been my goal since I joined the club in 2018 and continues to be my focus.

“When I’m done, I want to look back at my career with a positive reflection, including people saying ‘he was a great signing and represented our community to the best of his ability’.

“For now, I don’t feel like I have earned that yet, that’s why I have made this decision and will work hard every day to chase those goals.“

A statement on Kalyn Ponga ⚔️

Read now - https://t.co/IscpKuSvvs#defendthekingdompic.twitter.com/IWmANITZ2f

— Newcastle Knights (@NRLKnights) September 24, 2024

Ponga, 26, is yet to represent Australia but would have been in the mix for the Pacific Championships after a blistering run of form helped Newcastle sneak into the finals where he was untouchable in a thrilling loss to the Cowboys.

The livewire fullback has played eight games for Queensland and made his State of Origin return off the bench in the game three decider this year having missed the 2023 opener before he made himself unavailable for the rest of that series to look after his health following concussion concerns last year.

The Kangaroos have plenty of options at fullback with incumbent James Tedesco keen to keep his spot after the Aussies were thrashed by New Zealand 12 months ago.

Coach Mal Meninga can also turn to Penrith star Dylan Edwards who replaced Tedesco in the NSW side, while Reece Walsh and Tom Trbojevic would also be options, although the Sea Eagles fullback could have post-season surgery on his shoulder.