The Agenda Setters Rugby League on Channel 7: Kalyn Ponga on his Kiwis debut and beating the Kangaroos – New Zealand Rugby League World Cup captain Kalyn Ponga joined The Agenda Setters: Rugby League live on Channel 7 tonight, ahead of the Kiwis’ opening clash with the Kangaroos.
Corey Parker, David Riccio, Aaron Woods and Luke Keary quizzed Ponga on pulling on the Kiwis jersey for the first time, his preferred position, Newcastle’s grand final loss and how New Zealand can win the tournament.
The interview comes three days before the tournament opener. Australia and New Zealand meet at Allianz Stadium on Thursday, 16 October, with the match live and free from 7.00pm AEDT on Channel 7 and 7plus. TV Central’s Rugby League World Cup 2026 guide has the full broadcast schedule. Earlier on the program, Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters explained his squad selections.
Kalyn Ponga on finally wearing the Kiwis jersey
Aaron Woods congratulated Ponga on his selection and noted he had previously represented Queensland. He then asked what pulling on the Kiwis jersey meant for Ponga and his family.
Yeah, that’s probably the main thing, it’s my family. You know, a lot of people back home that I’m representing wearing this jersey. I’ve got a big family, I know they’ll all be proud. I think that’s something that as I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to appreciate a lot more.
Kalyn Ponga, The Agenda Setters: Rugby League
But it feels good, to be honest, training, being in this environment, that sense of belonging. Yeah, it’s been an awesome week so far and I’m just excited to be in here for the next four or five weeks. So, you know, obviously we’ve got a job to do on Thursday, but I’m just soaking it all in.
Kalyn Ponga, The Agenda Setters: Rugby League
Full-back or five-eighth?
David Riccio raised talk that Ponga could move into the six role. However, he noted the Kiwis also have halves options in Jahrome Hughes, Te Maire Martin and Kodi Nikorima.
Is the team list out yet? I want to play full-back, obviously. It’s a long campaign. I’ve said to Stace that I’ll put my hand up and play anywhere, but yeah, ideally full-back for me, obviously, is the position I’m comfortable with and that’s where I’ll play my best footy.
Kalyn Ponga, The Agenda Setters: Rugby League
Reflecting on Newcastle’s grand final loss
Luke Keary asked whether Ponga had time to reflect on the Newcastle Knights’ season and last Sunday’s grand final loss.
Yeah, things roll around pretty quick in rugby league, you know, and you get back into camp and your next focus, your next goal is obviously this campaign, but a little bit of time to reflect on just the year, you know, obviously the grand final wasn’t the way we wanted it to turn out, but the year that we’ve had, this group, this community, there’s been so many memories and highs throughout the year.
Kalyn Ponga, The Agenda Setters: Rugby League
What an experience too, like the last month of footy, just through the finals, that experience for myself and this team, yeah, you can’t replace it, so a little bit of time to reflect, but you sort of move on quick and I’ve got a job to do now.
Kalyn Ponga, The Agenda Setters: Rugby League
Playing behind the Kiwis forward pack
Corey Parker said the Kiwis had arguably the best forward pack he had seen in a very long time. He asked how that might change things for Ponga after playing behind Newcastle’s young forwards.
Getting used to it. I’ve had a few training sessions now, they’ve been good, intense sessions, but yeah, I’m excited to see what the footy looks like even on Thursday for myself. The style of footy that we played at the Knights with the younger forward pack that we had, it might be a bit different to what Thursday night looks like, but just so many leaders, so many quality players, proud players as well and it’s an environment that I’m definitely enjoying and I’m not the oldest, which is nice, I think I’m about below average, so that’s a different feeling for me too.
Kalyn Ponga, The Agenda Setters: Rugby League
Kalyn Ponga on Jahrome Hughes
Woods then asked about Ponga’s combination with halfback Jahrome Hughes.
Yeah, I spent a couple of years at Cow’s with Hughes back when I was 18 and he was 21, 22, 23, whatever it was. But yeah, you’ve obviously seen his career unfold. For me, I just feel like he’s really calm, he’s really clear with what he wants to do and how he plays his footy. That makes my job easier obviously.
Kalyn Ponga, The Agenda Setters: Rugby League
So yeah, only a short time to build those connections but you can already tell that he’s quite a composed player. He’s obviously got all the skill and all the flashy stuff but to be a seven, yeah, to get us around the park, he’s got all of that as well.
Kalyn Ponga, The Agenda Setters: Rugby League
How the Kiwis can beat the Kangaroos
Riccio said Thursday night is close to a sellout at Allianz Stadium, with more than 40,000 ticketed fans expected. He added that New Zealand would likely need to beat the Kangaroos twice to lift the trophy.
We can do it. How do we do it? I feel like obviously big games aren’t built on the flashy stuff and all that sort of stuff. We just have to be present, have to be in the moment, have to be willing to put our bodies on the line, work hard when we’re not on the field as connecting, work hard when we are on the field.
Kalyn Ponga, The Agenda Setters: Rugby League
There’s a lot of moments I reckon that these next five weeks are so important. It’s not just what’s on the footy park. Obviously preparing as best as we can, taking control of what we can control but it’s like yeah, there’s so many days that are going to lead up to hopefully the end result that we want and it’s just about making the most of them.
Kalyn Ponga, The Agenda Setters: Rugby League
The interview aired at 7.37pm AEDT on The Agenda Setters: Rugby League on Channel 7 and 7plus.
For more TV Central NRL news, head here. To watch The Agenda Setters: Rugby League, visit 7plus.
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