All Blacks coach keeps ‘the door open’ for NRL star Kalyn Ponga

The door is open for Kalyn Ponga to make a high-profile switch to New Zealand rugby union, with All Blacks coach Scott Robertson calling on the NRL superstar to again show interest in completing the stunning career move.

This update comes about two weeks after former All Blacks first five-eighth Stephen Donald revealed the Newcastle Knights playmaker is exploring rugby’s options, with ‘Beaver’ and co-host Kirstie Stanway-Thorne theorising the Hurricanes could be a potential landing spot.

Donald said on The Aftermatch that rugby union “is still on the table” for Ponga according to an unnamed source in Australia. Years ago, Ponga expressed a desire to one day play for the All Blacks before signing a lucrative multi-year deal with the Newcastle Knights.

Sam Cane after his 100th Test for the All Blacks and TJ Perenara after his last home game | All Blacks post-match

Sam Cane after his 100th Test for the All Blacks and TJ Perenara after his last home game talk to the media after the All Blacks 33-13 win over the Wallabies in Wellington.

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In 2022, Ponga penned a five-year deal through until the end of 2027. But with the Rugby World Cup in Australia only a couple of years away, and the 26-year-old is in blistering form for the Knights, now could be the right time for a potential move.

If Ponga was indeed interested, Robertson insists New Zealand Rugby would speak with the Queensland Maroons and Australian Kangaroos fullback about making this code-hopping dream a headline-grabbing reality.

“He’s done it a few years ago as well, showing his interest,” Robertson said on The Rugby Direct podcast. “If he comes to us we’ll have a conversation.

“You always keep the door open. He’s a hell of a player.

“If he shows interest there could be a conversation if it gets to that.”

There are many cases of NRL superstars who have the moved to rugby union before, but not every player has walked into the national team. Benji Marshall briefly played for the Blues in Super Rugby before returning to the NRL.

South Sydney Rabbitohs Premiership winner Sam Burgess played for England at the 2015 Rugby World Cup, Dally M Medallist Roger Tuivasa-Sheck represented the All Blacks on multiple occasions, and former Roosters utility Joey Manu is currently in Japan with Toyota Verblitz.

Rugby Australia’s marquee recruit Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii has been sidelined for practically all of the Super Rugby Pacific season so far, with the former Sydney Roosters and Samoa flyer debuting for the Waratahs in round one against the Highlanders.

Suaalii debuted in Wallaby gold during last year’s Spring Tour and received Player of the Match honours in a dramatic five-point win over England at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium. It’d no doubt pique the interest of sports fans worldwide if Ponga did pursue that All Blacks dream.

“That would be a huge goal. One that if I was to come back to union I would want to tick,” Ponga told TVNZ in 2019.

“But I’m not too sure what my future holds – whether I’m going to stay in league or change codes.

“If I was going back to rugby union, I’d probably want to strive for that black jumper.”