LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
The New Zealand Rugby League is resuming discussions with Kalyn Ponga about the possibility of him switching national allegiances to represent New Zealand.
Reports from zerotackle.com indicate that a recent ruling involving AJ Brimson of the Gold Coast Titans could influence Ponga's situation.
While New Zealand is classified as a Tier 1 nation, meaning players normally cannot switch from Australia or England after making their international debut, Brimson's case presents a potential exception.
Brimson was able to switch to the England team despite having previously represented Australia, as his appearances were made only at the 9s level, which the International Rugby League (IRL) has declared does not affect current eligibility rules.
Given this distinction, Brimson is now a top contender for the fullback position for England during their upcoming three-Test Ashes series against Australia at the end of the year and for the 2026 Rugby League World Cup set to take place in Australia.
Ponga's situation is similar, as he has played eight games for Queensland but has not represented Australia beyond the 9s tournament in 2019, which has not been repeated since.
This creates a doorway for him to potentially represent the Kiwis, given that he shares a similar background to Brimson concerning international representation.
With these unfolding events, Ponga's potential allegiance switch is gaining attention within the rugby league community.