OCCUPATION: Professional rugby league player for the Newcastle Knights in the NRL.
ORIGIN: Port Headland, WA.
BORN: March 30, 1998
HEIGHT: 184cm
WEIGHT: 92kg

BEYOND HIS YEARS
In the absence of Mitchell Pearce through injury, his maturity and skills have been relied upon in more desperate fashion in 2018 than Newcastle would have originally hoped. A first-year signing from the Cowboys, Ponga already boasts the game-smarts and general awareness of what’s happening around him of players far more experienced. After growing up watching players like Benji Marshall and Greg Inglis, he was mentored at the Cowboys by none other than the great Johnathan Thurston, who taught him how to look up and really take in what was in front of him before acting next. Thurston also told him all about maintaining a game’s tempo.

CAN TACKLE
Ponga doesn’t want to be known just as an attacking force in rugby league. Despite his youth, he’s already aware that the fullback legends who have come before him, in particular Billy Slater, have also proven lethal in defence. Ahead of the 2018 season, this was a key area of Ponga’s game which he wanted to work on. Sure enough, time and again he’s proven his strength and commitment in defence in desperate situations, successfully clamping ball-carriers around the waist as they’re heading towards the tryline.

TACKLE-BUSTER
Ponga’s strength in the collision for such a young man is simply outstanding, and has him way out in front when it comes to tackle busts. As at the standalone Origin break he has 116, well ahead of second-placed buster, Raiders winger Nick Cotric (91); Ponga collected 12 busts against the Gold Coast Titans alone. The home side grabbed the chocolates that day, but they had no idea of how to stop Ponga; he was simply too strong with the ball.

(Photo by Getty Images)

HEART OF ORIGIN
As a youngster, Ponga’s family moved around the country like a baseball team in the big show. Born in Port Headland in Western Australia, he grew up in Palmerston North in New Zealand, but had also lived in Mt Isa, Townsville and Brisbane due to his father’s work commitments. Despite all that distance covered, he’s sure of who he wants to play for when his international representative days commence. He’ll be a Maroon in Origin and a Kangaroo in the Test footy arena. Decision made.

(Photo by Getty Images)

FANCY FOOTWORK
A speedster with cunning footwork, Ponga’s ability to beat defenders is one of his stronger attributes. His recent 95m try against the Titans in that game referred to earlier on the Gold Coast was a showcase of his blinding speed, but also of his breathtaking footwork. Cutting straight through the Titans’ defence following a GC kick downfield, Ponga raced away to score virtually untouched. We all knew he was strong, fast and skilful, but that run well and truly made the rugby league world sit up and realise we’re actually watching a football genius in the early years of what should be a brilliant career.