Knights superstar Kalyn Ponga won’t be putting his hand up to play for Australia at the upcoming Pacific Championships.
The Dally-M winning fullback has opted to make himself ineligible for international selection and instead focus on Newcastle’s NRL pre-season which will kick off in November.
His shock decision comes after a stellar campaign for the Knights, leading the side into the finals for a second consecutive year and thrust him into consideration for a Kangaroos jersey.
Ponga has confirmed his desire to put all his efforts towards the red and blue winning a Premiership, starting from day one of the new season.
“I want to win a comp, for me anything short of that, isn’t success,” he says.
“My focus has never shifted from wanting to win a Premiership with the Knights, that has been my gaol since I joined the club in 2018 and continues to be my focus.
“When I’m done, I want to look back at my career with a positive reflection, including people saying he was a great signing and represented our community to the best of his ability.
“For now, I don’t feel like I have earnt that yet, that’s why I have made this decision and will work hard every day to chase those goals. “
The Knights Captain will take his required break and then shift focus to being ready to play the maximum amount of NRL games in 2025.
Image: Supplied.