Kiwis reap rewards of gamble on ‘freak of nature’ Ponga

New Zealand beat Tonga 34-10 to reach their first men’s Rugby League World Cup final in 13 years, with Kalyn Ponga making a remarkable return from a broken forearm. His performance helped turn a tense semi-final into a decisive win and strengthened the Kiwis’ hopes of winning their second title.

Ponga broke his left forearm in New Zealand’s opening match against Australia on 15 October and had surgery, but returned just 23 days later. He contributed to four of the Kiwis’ six tries, while Jamayne Isaako kicked five of six conversions; New Zealand’s pressure produced two tries in five minutes after 48 closely fought minutes. Tonga struggled with the worsening wind and rain, but coach Kristian Woolf said they had not handled the conditions as well as their opponents.