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2026 Melbourne Cup sweepstake kit‘Do you just back class?’: Kiwis face selection dilemma for World Cup semi-final
Sport Nation • November 2nd, 2026 5:55 pm
Kalyn Ponga | Photo: Robbie Stephenson/AAP
The Kiwis may have a major selection call ahead of Saturday’s Rugby League World Cup semi-final against Tonga, with Kalyn Ponga pushing to return and Keano Kini having impressed at fullback in the interim.
Stacey Jones will announce his team on Tuesday at 6pm, with The Finals Countdown hosted by Sam Ackerman and Mitch James live on-air and diving into all the news as it comes in.
One player certain to miss the match is winger Ronaldo Mulitalo, who received a one-game suspension for a high shot on Fijian winger Ronald Philitoga last Saturday.
Ponga however returned to training last week after surgery on the arm he broke in the tournament opener against Australia. He starred in that match, scoring two tries, one of those with a broken arm.
Reece Walsh and Kalyn Ponga had a magnificent battle in the World Cup opener | Photo: AP
Former All Black Israel Dagg said on Sport Nation's Scotty & Izzy that Ponga’s performance against Australia had shown why his New Zealand debut was so anticipated.
“No doubt in my mind, leading into the series, how influential he was going to be and that Australian Kangaroos game, which feels like an age ago, showed the reason why everyone wanted to see him in the black jersey.”
But Kini has strengthened his case to retain the No. 1 jersey with his performances in Ponga’s absence.
“Every time Keano Kini gets the ball, I'm like, ‘something's gonna happen here’, he is only the smallest in stature, but he is so quick, he is so fast when he's got ball in hand.
“The way that he can move from left to right on a dime and the way that he can spot a gap.
"That try he scored, there was not much doing. He just does a little bounce off the pass, gets into a little bit of space in between the Fijians and one-on-one, you're never gonna stop a bloke like that.”
Keano Kini celebrates his try in New Zealand's Rugby League World Cup clash with the Cook Islands in Christchurch | Photo: Photosport
Dagg said Ponga’s fitness would leave selectors with a difficult decision.
“So, after watching that performance, what do you do? If Kalyn Ponga is available, does he come straight back in?
“I think the decision will be easier now because of Mulitalo's situation. But if Mulitalo wasn't out with suspension, do you bring a guy that's been out of the game for a couple of weeks, knowing that he might be a little bit underdone.
“Or do you just back class? Do you back Kalyn Ponga knowing that Kalyn’s in a rich vein of form right now?”
Ackerman believes that if Ponga is declared fit, he should start at fullback, with Kini moving to the bench and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad filling in for Mulitalo on the wing.
Ronaldo Mulitalo (l) and Charnze Nicoll-Klostad | Photo: Andrew Cornaga/Photosport
“If Kalyn Ponga is declared fit and they say he can play, he plays in the number one jersey.
“Kini is essentially a fullback specialist. We know he's fast. We know he’s got skills. It's not to say he can't play wing, but I think in a game as you're likely to see against Tonga who have got some guns on the wing, who know their role pretty well.
“I just think that you're better to put somebody who has more wing experience on the wing and that for me would be Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad.”
Ackerman however warned that Ponga may not be ready in time.
Kalyn Ponga | Photo: James Gourley/Photosport
“There's also the outside chance that despite the whispers we're hearing, Kalyn Ponga is not going to be fit in time for this game and could be on a knife edge for the final.”
Knights' hooker Phoenix Crossland is also available after serving a four-match ban for a hip-drop tackle in the NRL preliminary final against the Panthers, which caused a serious injury to Nathan Cleary.
His availability could give the Kiwis another option for No. 9, with Te Maire Martin having covered for Jahrome Hughes at halfback last week after being named on the bench as utility cover for current hooker Jeremy Marshall-King.
“You can find yourself a little vulnerable with only one specialist dummy half in a final,” Ackerman explained.
Listen to the full conversation below:
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