LeagueNews.co | Robbie Hamilton
"Kini, mate, just play your own game," Ponga said to the young Titan, imparting some sage advice during their time rooming together at the Māori campaign last week.
As Kini soaked up the knowledge and heritage during his maiden All Stars experience, he also took the opportunity to seek guidance from the seasoned veteran.
Ponga, who burst onto the NRL scene in 2016 much like Kini is now, shared some pearls of wisdom gleaned from his 133 games and various Origin battles.
With a career trajectory that mirrors Kini's own, Ponga's advice to "be yourself" resonated with the promising talent.
In a sport where toughness and resilience are key, Kini will no doubt take Ponga's words to heart as he strives to make his mark on the competition.