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Opinion
Kalyn Ponga’s momentary snub of the Kangaroos sparked a culture war so explosive it spiked Facebook’s stock price.
Pitting freedom of choice against national service, the fullback’s bombshell incensed traditionalists as equally as it aroused unionists and the Newcastle faithful alike.
Even though he has now backflipped to say he’s available after a nuclear fallout, it wasn’t the first time a footballer had excluded himself from rep duties.
However, the difference in Ponga’s situation was his reasoning.
He didn’t withdraw for something common like injury or to shoot pigs in Wee Waa, it was purely because he wanted to hit the ground running for the Newcastle pre-season.
Was it the act of a company man with his heart in the right place? Or had he committed the rugby league equivalent of taking a leak on the cenotaph in Martin Place?
Wherever you sat on the fullback’s move, we can all agree on one incendiary act the Queensland rep was guilty of: Telling the truth.
As much as we claim otherwise, honesty is a quality not welcome in rugby league.
In fact, being deliberately misleading is a cornerstone of the game, especially when claiming a dubious try, taking a dive for a penalty, or working as a player agent.
Had Ponga simply followed the rules from the jump and skipped out of rep duties by telling porkies, none of this malarkey would’ve taken place and everybody would be none the wiser.
The state of the jersey wouldn’t be called in to question and Ponga and the Knights wouldn’t be forced in to a delicately worded backtrack.
Kalyn Ponga wins the 2023 Dally M player of the year. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Furthermore, riled-up journalists wouldn’t be making breathless comparisons to the diggers while combusting as they watched old footage of Ponga lauding the All Blacks jersey, and young people wouldn’t be replying with “OK, boomer”.
All the fullback had to do was withdraw by either citing personal reasons, staging a sham marriage or, as is 99% of these cases, overstating a niggling injury.
Everyone agrees the Kangaroos jersey is one of the most coveted in the international game, even almost as coveted as Tonga’s.
That’s why all players agree selection for Australia is the pinnacle of the game, at least until Origin time anyway.
But as the prestige of the Kangaroos jersey has slowly waned over the years, you can bet your bottom dollar more players than ever have ruled themselves out by diagnosing IBS as an ACL.
That’s because injury is a no-questions-asked fallback excuse, and also because Tracy Grimshaw doesn’t work for the NRL.
Yep, rugby league never scrutinises these fake ailments with a hidden camera like A Current Affair, meaning Ponga literally could’ve delivered the news while bench-pressing a fridge on a treadmill and we’d have accepted it without question.
Club legend Andrew Johns agreed the 26-year-old dropped the ball, even going as far as blaming the Knights organisation itself for not fleecing the public’s trust.
“Where’s someone within the Knights saying ‘hang on, just think about it for a second, what about we just say you need a clean-out of your ankle or something like that?’”
Despite Ponga’s regretful transparency, let’s not blame him for his mistake.
Perhaps all these people trying to restore the sanctity of the Kangaroos jersey – namely Peter V’landys and company – should explore the deeper reasons why young footballers would rather fake a hammy or run up sandhills instead of play for Australia.
Put simply, it’s because today’s players are deep-fried from a season jammed solid from January to November with too many games.
With 27 rounds of club footy and State of Origin bookended with pre-season matches, finals and the Pacific Championships, the seams are at bursting point- and something’s gotta give.
And in Ponga’s case, it was international footy and the chance to play third banana behind Meninga’s preferred steadies James Tedesco and Dylan Edwards.
Footy’s calendar is as morbidly obese as it’s ever been and it’s clear it either needs a cutback, or Pope Gregory XIII to add three more months to the Gregorian calendar to keep the RLPA happy.
And as for the stipulations in the NRL contract about players making themselves readily available for all representative sides while actively playing?
It’s time to revisit the guidelines with a view for modern standards of player welfare, or pick Cliff Lyons.
Did Australian coach Mal Meninga underestimate the Kiwis? (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
And most importantly, what about the wellbeing of players, Ponga especially?
Not only his well-documented concussion struggles, but also the crippling burden of being a prophet in a one-team town that has seen more sacked coaches than high tides.
No doubt, with the fullback now declaring his availability, there’s still time for Ponga to prove a salient lesson has been learned.
With the Knights citing a raft of caveats about his availability being “subject to the standard health, fitness, and mental readiness”, he could still yet withdraw with IBS.
And fair enough too.
In summary, if you want to be treated with respect in rugby league, be a liar and get a medical certificate.