Ponga ready for NRL All Stars game after injury-free off-season

Kalyn Ponga has navigated an injury-free off-season and is looking forward to playing in the NRL All Stars match for the first time in five years this weekend.

The Newcastle Knights fullback has wanted to play the fixture every year since 2020 — where he helped the Maori All Stars win 30-16 — but pre-season niggles have kept him away from the match.

Now, Ponga is feeling fit and ready to embrace his heritage yet again when his side take on the Indigenous All Stars this Saturday in Sydney.

“I’m back, first time since 2020,” Ponga said on Monday.

“I wanted to reconnect and I’ve been injured every year.

“Every pre-season I’ve had something that’s put me out for four-to-six weeks – whether media have known about it or not – but I can’t go into a camp without having the preparation.

“I wouldn’t go into an All Stars game if I didn’t feel fully fit.

“I’ve had a good pre-season. I feel good.

“I’m keen to get into camp and reconnect and immerse myself and then also hopefully play some good footy at the end.

“Leading into coming into camp, I was kind of thinking, if I keep training the way I have been training, it will set me up to go in there and I’ll feel confident.

“I’m definitely excited for footy, it feels like you blink and it’s back around, which is exciting to have games over the weekend, it is cool.

“I’m excited, All Stars next week and then not long until round one [of the NRL].”

Rugby league bookmakers have the Maori All Stars as favourites at $1.62, with the Indigenous All Star returning $2.30 for the win.

For Ponga, the match is about more than victory, however.

“When I’m back in that environment, I feel like I’m around my family and to have that feeling again, it’s more about the culture,” he said.

“It’s an opportunity for me to reconnect really.

“I was born in Australia, moved to New Zealand then moved back to Australia, so I’ve got a lot of uncles and aunties and cousins that have been proud to see me represent our culture.

“To be honest, I’m not too strong in my knowledge and I used to be afraid to say that, but I’m not really afraid to say that anymore.

“It is what it is, but I’m keen to get in there.”

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