New Zealand star Kalyn Ponga has produced one of the most remarkable comeback stories of the Rugby League World Cup, returning from a broken arm just 23 days after surgery to help the New Zealand Kiwis secure a place in their first Men’s Rugby League World Cup final in 13 years.
Kiwis coach Stacey Jones said there was never any doubt about Ponga’s determination to play despite the serious injury.
“He’s a tough character and he was so adamant he was playing,” Jones said.
Ponga’s tournament dream appeared to turn into a nightmare during New Zealand’s World Cup opener against Australia in Sydney on 15 October.
Making his New Zealand debut, the 28-year-old looked set for a memorable occasion after scoring two second-half tries against the Kangaroos. However, he was later forced from the field after playing for around 20 minutes with a broken left forearm suffered during a tackle involving Cameron Munster.
The injury required surgery and initially seemed certain to rule him out for the remainder of the tournament.
Yet just over three weeks later, Ponga made a stunning comeback. Originally named as a reserve and later included on the interchange bench, he was ultimately promoted into the starting side for the semi-final against Tonga.
The gamble paid off as Ponga delivered a standout performance to help New Zealand defeat Tonga 34-10, securing a place in the World Cup final.
Jones praised both the advances in sports medicine and Ponga’s determination throughout his recovery.
“Where sports science is these days – I saw what he had in his arm, the rod or plate was covering his whole arm,” Jones said.
“We didn’t know until after our second-to-last training that he was going to be all right, he ticked all the boxes. Just a tough person.”
Ponga’s return has been widely described as one of the most extraordinary recoveries in recent rugby league history and provides a major boost for New Zealand ahead of the World Cup final.
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