By Adrian Proszenko
ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys has allayed concerns players will feign injury to avoid Test duty as Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga considers whether to hold Kalyn Ponga’s original decision against him at the selection table.
After initially prioritising a Newcastle pre-season, Ponga performed a stunning backflip late on Friday night that could result in him making his Australian debut and avoiding sanction for initially making himself unavailable for selection.
NRL player contracts state they must make themselves available for representative teams and Ponga’s initial stance put him on a collision course with head office. However, the prospect of being forced to sit out NRL games – a penalty that would have impacted Ponga’s ambition to win a premiership with the Knights – prompted a rethink.
“That shows the character of the person,” V’landys said. “He realises that he made a mistake, and it takes a man of great quality to do what he’s doing.
“He could have taken the other option, but he’s taken the option that shows he’s a quality individual. That’s probably why he’s such a good rugby league player.
“You want your best players playing on the international stage, and he’s one of our best players.”
Kalyn Ponga is back in the mix for the Kangaroos, but will Mal Meninga pick him?Credit: Getty
Meninga said the Ponga fiasco highlighted the need for more clarity and education about the rules.
“I think the way that his team handled it created this mess,” Meninga said. “They were made fully aware ... that there is some due process. He’s been a victim of that really, and it’s become a really public issue. The process needs to be fixed, the way you communicate with the game around your availability and eligibility.
“It’s too grey at the moment and people don’t quite understand it. There needs to be more clarity for the players and clubs to understand their responsibilities under the contractual agreements and the licensing agreements of clubs. That’s the grey area. There needs to be clarity so everyone understands the protocols and processes.
“Then it stops all this confusion.”
Pressed on whether he would pick Ponga following his backflip, Meninga said: “He’s in the squad. There’s me and the chair and two other selectors from each state that will make that decision.”
The availability of the reigning Dally M medallist, should he be selected, will be a boost for the Pacific Championships at a time when the NRL is trying to grow the international game. The controversy is also a timely reminder of players’ obligations to growing the game globally.
“I always look for the positives out of the negatives, and the positive is now the players are aware of the rule,” V’landys said.
“I was watching a podcast from the players and none of them knew the rule either. That’s a condition of their contract and a rule of their sport.
Kalyn Ponga upset the NRL hierarchy with his decision to prioritise his club over his country, before changing his mind.Credit: Getty
“In my personal view, there doesn’t need to be a rule. The pinnacle of any sport is to represent your country. If you get the opportunity to represent your country, you should grab it with both hands, because later in life you will regret it [if you don’t].”
In some respects Ponga was a victim of his own honesty, being upfront about his reasons for sitting out the season-ending Tests when others have feigned injury to have a summer break.
However, V’landys is confident all healthy players will report for international duty as required.
“The players are professionals, they won’t feign injuries,” V’landys said.
“I don’t have any concern at all because in time, we will get pride into the Australian jumper. It will be a process, but that’s one of our strong objectives, ensuring the Kangaroos jumper is the one all rugby league players aspire to.”
The Knights chose a curious time to announce Ponga’s change of attitude, issuing a press release just after the first preliminary final kicked off on Friday.
“The nib Newcastle Knights would like to respond to recent communications regarding Captain Kalyn Ponga eligibility for international selection for the Australian Kangaroos, specifically the Pacific Championships in October 2024,” the statement reads. “The Newcastle Knights and Club Captain Kalyn Ponga understands his responsibilities under his NRL playing contract, NRL rules and the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
“Both parties commit to fulfilling all obligations, including availability to play representative football, subject to the standard health, fitness and mental readiness.”
Newcastle had previously released a statement outlining Ponga’s unavailability on Tuesday, just three days after he told SEN radio that he was fit and willing to make his Kangaroos debut. Adding further intrigue to the situation, the Newcastle captain has previously stated his desire to represent the All Blacks, while the Kiwis tried to unsuccessfully pick him last year.
The Kangaroos team will be picked after next Sunday’s grand final.
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