Head coach Stacey Jones and debutants Kalyn Ponga and Dane Gagai complete a full circle moment more than seven years in the making when they combine forces in the Kiwis’ Rugby League World Cup opener against the Kangaroos in Sydney tonight.
Newcastle teammates Ponga and Gagai mark their Kiwi Test debuts, Ponga playing his first international and Gagai in the Kiwi jersey for the first time eight years after the last of his seven Tests for the Kangaroos against the Kiwis and Tonga in October 2018.
Gagai will have the distinction of becoming the second oldest debutant in New Zealand Test history at the age of 35 years 286 days.
It was Jones who instigated a journey of cultural discovery in 2019 which has brought Ponga and Gagai to this point, Jones working closely with them to seal their selection in the Kiwis’ 2026 Rugby League World Cup squad.
Seven years ago Jones brought the pair into the Māori All Stars to face the Indigenous All Stars in Melbourne; it was the first time the Māori had appeared in the fixture.
Playing on the wing, Gagai scored two of the three Māori tries as they went down 14-34 while Ponga, restricted to 21 minutes on the field, laid on a try for Esan Marsters.
Ponga has Māori ancestry on his father Andre’s side while Gagai’s Māori heritage comes through his mother Tania.
Both players have gone on to appear for the Māori All Stars three times each while Gagai has also represented the Indigenous All Stars three times (his father Ray is of Torres Strait Islander descent).
There were tears of joy all round last night when the debutants were surrounded by family for the presentation of their first Kiwi jerseys, fullback Ponga receiving his father and Gagai from his mother.
