LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
Kalyn Ponga drops bombshell retirement news after State of Origin selection revival for QLD
The Newcastle Knights dynamo has spilled the beans on just how close he came to hanging up his boots.
Kalyn Ponga has spilled the beans on how close he came to chucking in the towel on his NRL career last year, revealing on Monday that he was seriously contemplating walking away from the game.
Ponga, who was named on the bench for Queensland ahead of the State of Origin decider at Suncorp Stadium next Wednesday, will make his long-awaited return to the Origin arena after a hiatus since 2022.
In a twist of fate, Ponga made the tough call to sit out last year's Origin series in order to focus on the grind with his beloved Newcastle Knights, aiming to repay their unwavering support through thick and thin.
After battling through a string of concerning concussions that sidelined him for a considerable stretch, Ponga felt indebted to the Knights for their steadfast backing.
Despite facing a rollercoaster ride of injuries throughout the tumultuous 2024 season, with just one appearance for the Knights in the past three months, the legendary Billy Slater has placed his trust in Ponga for the Origin decider, slotting him onto the bench as a wildcard to team up with fullback Reece Walsh.
Reflecting on his rollercoaster journey, Ponga confessed to a marked improvement in his mental fortitude this year compared to his dark contemplations of retiring from the NRL back in 2023.
Opening up to the press on Monday, the 26-year-old admitted that he had feared he might never grace the field again due to the brutal toll of his head injuries.