Kalyn Ponga
Fullback
Player Bio
- Height:
- 184 cm
- Date of Birth:
- 30 March 1998
- Weight:
- 92 kg
- Birthplace:
- Port Hedland, WA
- Age:
- 23
- Nickname:
- KP
- Debut Club:
- North Queensland Cowboys
- Date:
- 16 September 2016
- Opposition:
- Brisbane Broncos
- Round:
- -
- Previous Club:
- North Queensland Cowboys
- Junior Club:
- Souths Mackay, Easts Tigers Brisbane
- Biography:
The 2018 and 2020 Danny Buderus medal winner, Ponga enjoyed a stunning season last year.
A staple of the Queensland State of Origin side, the livewire has become a highlight-reel machine and stamped himself as one of the game’s best fullbacks.
Ponga was born in Port Hedland, WA but is a Mackay junior.
He made his NRL debut for the North Queensland Cowboys in 2016 and played nine games with the side across two seasons.
A speedster with cunning footwork, his ability to beat defenders is one of his strong attributes.
Ponga is signed with the Knights until the end of 2024 and is primed for a huge season in 2021.
ABOUT ME ...
Who am I ... Kalyn Ponga
Who is most important to me ... Can’t really split them but my mum, dad and little sister
Greatest off-field achievement ... I haven’t probably achieved what I wanted to off the field, my goal was to go to University and study, started my secondary school teaching degree but haven’t finished it, that is probably something I want to achieve
Something you wouldn’t know about me is.. My biggest fear is bugs, love my photography, I also used to play a lot of golf and thought I wanted to play golf professionally
I’d be lost without... Connor, my roommate, he looks after me
What I love most about living in Newcastle... Love the beach and my mates, the boys that are here, both in the top squad and a few in the 20’s and some local mates.
I grew up ... Grew up everywhere, spent the longest in Palmerston North which is in New Zealand
People would describe me as ... Laid-back, easy-going and relaxed
As a kid my hero was ... My dad, always
They were my hero because... He always inspired me to be the best that I could be whether it was school or sport
The last book I read was... The Subtle Art
My favourite song to listen to on game day is ... Nonstop by Drake or the song Chicken Soup
My favourite thing to do in Newcastle is ... Go the beach, get out and about, go on adventures and take photos
My greatest on field moment... Anytime you put on a jersey for the first time is a big achievement, my debut, playing for the Knights and then playing for Queensland as well.
Career
- Appearances
- 73
- Tries
- 34
2021 Season
- Appearances
- 5
Scoring
- Tries
- 4
- Goals
- 10
Kicking
- Goal Conversion Rate
-
Attack
- Try Assists
- 4
- Line Breaks
- 4
- Tackle Breaks
- 27
Passing
- Receipts
- 220
Defence
- Tackles Made
- 25
- Missed Tackles
- 14
- Tackle Efficiency
-
Running Metres
- Average Running Metres
- 152
- Total Running Metres
- 763
Fantasy
- Total Points
- 300
- Average Points
- 60
2021 Season - By Round
| Round | Opponent | Score | Position | Minutes Played | Tries | Goals | Points | Kicking Metres | Try Assists | Linebreaks | Tackle Breaks | Post Contact Metres | Offloads | Receipts | Tackles Made | Missed Tackles | Total Running Metres | Hit Up Running Metres | Kick Return Metres | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Titans | Lost | 42 - 16 | Fullback | 80 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 72 | - | 1 | 5 | 26 | 2 | 36 | 8 | 3 | 180 | - | 48 |
| 6 | Sharks | Won | 26 - 22 | Fullback | 80 | 2 | 3 | 14 | 32 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 41 | 3 | 39 | 7 | 1 | 172 | - | 44 |
| 7 | Panthers | Lost | 24 - 6 | Fullback | 80 | - | 1 | 2 | 77 | - | - | 4 | 35 | 1 | 49 | 1 | 2 | 179 | - | 68 |
| 8 | Roosters | Lost | 4 - 38 | Fullback | 80 | - | - | - | 100 | 1 | - | 3 | 25 | - | 61 | 2 | 3 | 111 | 14 | 30 |
| 9 | Raiders | Won | 16 - 24 | Fullback | 80 | 1 | 4 | 12 | - | 1 | 1 | 7 | 27 | 3 | 35 | 7 | 5 | 119 | - | - |
Career By Season
| Year | Played | Won | Lost | Drawn | Win % | Tries | Goals | Points | Kicking Metres | Kicking Metres Average | Goal Conversion Rate | Forced Drop Outs | Try Assists | Linebreaks | Receipts | Tackles Made | Missed Tackles | Tackle Efficiency | Total Running Metres | Average Running Metres | Kick Return Metres | Total Points | Average Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cowboys | 2016 | 2 | 1 | 1 | - | 50% | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 28 | 4 | 1 | 75.00% | 235 | 117.55 | 27 | 48 | 24.0 |
| Cowboys | 2017 | 7 | 2 | 5 | - | 29% | 3 | - | 12 | 50 | 7.14 | - | - | - | 8 | 153 | 19 | 8 | 64.04% | 879 | 125.00 | 413 | 287 | 41.0 |
| Knights | 2018 | 20 | 7 | 13 | - | 35% | 6 | 27 | 78 | 1,295 | 64.77 | 69.23% | 7 | 11 | 12 | 698 | 105 | 42 | 67.44% | 2,855 | 142.00 | 990 | 1,050 | 52.5 |
| Knights | 2019 | 20 | 8 | 12 | - | 40% | 11 | 48 | 140 | 1,117 | 55.83 | 80.00% | 8 | 9 | 15 | 718 | 113 | 42 | 66.45% | 2,557 | 127.00 | 788 | 975 | 48.8 |
| Knights | 2020 | 19 | 11 | 8 | - | 58% | 10 | 46 | 132 | 1,598 | 84.11 | 65.71% | 8 | 14 | 12 | 791 | 54 | 41 | 53.19% | 3,502 | 184.00 | 1,064 | 1,106 | 58.2 |
| Knights | 2021 | 5 | 2 | 3 | - | 40% | 4 | 10 | 36 | 280 | 56.10 | 71.43% | - | 4 | 4 | 220 | 25 | 14 | 58.36% | 763 | 152.00 | 192 | 300 | 60.0 |
Career Overall
| Year Start | Year End | Played | Won | Lost | Drawn | Win % | Tries | Goals | Points | Kicking Metres | Kicking Metres Average | Goal Conversion Rate | Forced Drop Outs | Try Assists | Linebreaks | Receipts | Tackles Made | Missed Tackles | Tackle Efficiency | Total Running Metres | Average Running Metres | Kick Return Metres | Total Points | Average Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cowboys | 2016 | 2017 | 9 | 3 | 6 | - | 33% | 3 | - | 12 | 50 | 5.56 | - | - | - | 9 | 181 | 23 | 9 | 66.48% | 1,115 | 123.00 | 440 | 333 | 37.0 |
| Knights | 2018 | 2021 | 64 | 28 | 36 | - | 44% | 31 | 131 | 386 | 4,291 | 67.04 | 71.58% | 23 | 38 | 43 | 2,427 | 297 | 139 | 62.19% | 9,678 | 151.00 | 3,035 | 3,418 | 53.4 |
