‘Ridiculous’: NRL world divided as Kalyn Ponga Kangaroos deadline twist emerges

The NRL’s deadline for Kalyn Ponga to change his stance has passed after the star announced he’d removed himself from Australian selection.

Kalyn Ponga and Mal Meninga

The rugby league world has been left divided after Kalyn Ponga’s bombshell Kangaroos snub as the NRL’s deadline for a backflip passed.

While there has not yet been news on any potential move from either the NRL, the Knights or Ponga, The Daily Telegraph reported the club and the fullback been given until 4pm on Thursday to change his mind.

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The NRL have reportedly considered standing Ponga down for the start of the season with other calls to rule him out of Origin.

The Telegraph report stated the NRL had written to the club to outline the requirements for players to make themselves available for the Kangaroos.

Speaking on NRL 360 on Thursday night, Phil Rothfield said the Knights had the deadline extended until Friday, but that Ponga was considering a backflip.

“It’s only speculation, but it’s pretty good speculation, that Ponga is relooking at his situation and is preparing, possibly tomorrow, to make himself available again to wear the jersey, as per the Peter V’landys, Andrew Abdo demand,” Rothfield said.

However, Rothfield suggested “having shown a little disrespect for the jersey” that Ponga still may not get selected.

Ponga, who has yet to play a Test match for the Kangaroos, was considered a strong chance to be picked for Australia for the end of season Pacific Championships, although James Tedesco and Dylan Edwards have also had outstanding seasons and are still in the hunt for premierships.

Braith Anasta said that if Ponga wasn’t selected at fullback for Australia, that he’d have him in the No. 14 jersey, while Gorden Tallis said he’s in the best 17 players for Australia.

A Kalyn Ponga backflip is predicted. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

Ponga set a cat among the pigeons when he released a statement through the club on Tuesday, announcing he had withdrawn himself from potential Kangaroos selection.

After the Knights made the finals for fourth time in five years under Adam O’Brien, the side was bundled out in the first week at the hands of the North Queensland Cowboys.

But the 26-year-old reigning Dally M Medallist expressed his desire to have a full pre-season having been ruled out at the end of last year due to concussion, while he missed nearly three months of footy in the middle of the year due to a Lisfranc injury in his foot.

“I want to win a comp, for me anything short of that, isn’t success,” Ponga said.

“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 earnt that yet, that’s why I have made this decision and will work hard every day to chase those goals.”

The Knights backed Ponga’s position, something that drew the ire of club legend Andrew Johns, who slammed Newcastle’s “amateur hour” move, arguing the club should have seen the backlash coming.

Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga said the entire situation showed there needed to be better communication between the players, clubs and the national team.

Mal Meninga has broken his silence. Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

While he added that any conversations between he and Ponga would remain private, he admitted he was disappointed, particularly when the star hadn’t reached out to explain the decision before the announcement dropped.

“(I found out) just through the press release, unfortunately,” Meninga said on SEN 1170 The Throwdown.

“That’s the first I think anyone knew about it. I’m assuming the Newcastle club as well (didn’t know). I think this was done independently, that’s my read on it all.

“I’ve spoken to Kalyn in confidence and that conversation will stay private.”

Meninga said while he believes Ponga wants to play for Australia, the coach said of his decision to devote himself to the Knights to repay their faith: “I think that’s a fair excuse, to be honest with you.”

Backing up his comments from earlier in the week, Johns doubled down on his Wide World of Sports show Immortal Behaviour, saying “it’s his decision to stand down”.

“He wants to have a full off season,” Johns said.

“He’s been on records saying he wants to win a comp at Newcastle so him not playing the Kangaroos means he gets back to training early November.

“If he plays the Pacific bowl he won’t get back to training late January.

“So if I’m a player who’s playing with Kalyn, it would just inspire me to get back and really rip into training.”

However, Johns said there were some things Ponga should have done better.

“He should have called Mal, that’s the big one,” Johns said.

“It looks poor form when he hasn’t spoken to Mal. I understand he spoke to Mal yesterday and cleared the air, but it should have been done, and I think should be done face-to-face, not over the phone.

“In hindsight, if Kalyn picked up the phone or, better still, came down to Sydney Town and sat down with Mal and just said ‘look, these are the reasons why I don’t want to play’, I think Mal would still have his players hat on (and) would totally understand.”

Andrew Johns said Ponga brought some of this on himself. Photo: YouTube

However, he also blasted the Knights again, saying someone had to be able to do a risk assessment and talk about the consequences of how it would be perceived.

Johns added someone should have know there was a clause in the contract which states players must make themselves available for rep footy if they’re fit.

He suggested the club should have claimed Ponga needed a “clean out or something like that”.

“I know it’s telling fibs, but it’s a way to protect your player,” he said.

Co-host Danika Mason said she disagreed and said being found out in a lie would get him in more trouble, but suggested Ponga had grounds to sit out the Pacific Championships due to the Lisfranc injury.

As for a potential ban, he said “it’s ridiculous that one”.

Johns said the season just gets longer and longer, saying one year Cameron Smith told him “he played 37 games — they’re not machines”.

Speaking with the ABC’s NRL Daily Podcast, former seven-Test Australian winger Josh Mansour said it was a long season with 27 rounds before the finals — as well as Origin, pre-season games and then international matches.

“God forbid, he wants to have a break, go away from footy and freshen up mentally and physically, so he can be right to play footy and ply his trade next season,” Mansour said.

“I do not understand what the big deal is, I really don’t.

“We have to condense the season, we just have to. It’s over-saturated. Less is more.”

Ponga has divided the NRL. Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

However, there are plenty more who disagree.

Former Australian selector Bob McCarthy told the Sydney Morning Herald he’d “be putting the red line through his name”, while Greg Alexander suggested it could have been a private discussion with Meninga.

Rugby league Immortal Wally Lewis told the Sydney Morning Herald he wouldn’t have made the same decision.

“Representing your country is the greatest honour you will ever have in your sporting career,” Lewis said.

“I know all the blokes I had the thrill of playing international football with would give their left arm to play.”

16 Test veteran Tim Brasher told SkyNews.com.au he didn’t understand either.

“I don’t get it. It’s the pinnacle of sport”, Brasher said.

“You want to play for your country, it’s the best. The tours, the fact you’re in the top squad in the country in rugby league. How would you give that up?”

Originally published as ‘Ridiculous’: NRL world divided as Kalyn Ponga Kangaroos deadline twist emerges