Kalyn Ponga cops truth bomb from Wally Lewis as NRL star faces career exile from Kangaroos

Rugby league legend Wally Lewis has warned Kalyn Ponga that his decision to snub a Kangaroos spot is one he will likely come to regret looking back on his career. Ponga - who is yet to represent the Kangaroos in the Test arena.- on Tuesday declared himself unavailable to play for Australia in the Pacific Championship Test matches at the end of the NRL season.

The call comes after Ponga also made himself unavailable for State of Origin last season, after returning from a long stint on the sidelines following concussion concerns. And while there are no such injury worries this time around, the Newcastle fullback stated he wanted to put his full focus into a full pre-season with the Knights. "I want to win a comp, for me, anything short of that isn't a success," Ponga said in a statement on the Knights website.

"My focus has never shifted from wanting to win a premiership with the Knights, that has been my goal 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 earned that yet. That's why I have made this decision and will work hard every day to chase those goals."

Lewis told The Sydney Morning Herald that while Ponga has every right to make that call, come the end of his rugby league career he may come to regret choosing to forego wearing the green and gold. "Kalyn has had a wonderful year, but if I was in the same position, I wouldn't be making the same choice – representing your country is the greatest honour you will ever have in your sporting career," Lewis said.

"I know all the blokes I had the thrill of playing international football with would give their left arm to play. There are periods for every footballer when they are in retirement and look back and think, 'Did I make the right decision there?' I can't speak on his behalf, but I know I wouldn't make a similar choice."

While Kangaroos legend Bob McCarthy believes the Newcastle No.1 should never play for Australia after making himself unavailable. "I'd be putting the red line through his name," McCarthy told SMH.

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"You don't knock back the Australian jersey. I can't see his reckoning there. It's the ultimate reward, playing for your country. Origin is good, but the green and gold is something different. That's what Mal has been trying to instil into everyone – he's recognising those who dug the well and wants to keep that spirit going."

Kalyn Ponga's Kangaroos withdrawal against NRL rules

But Ponga's decision could potentially land him and his club in hot water, due to the fact his withdrawal is against NRL rules. Under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, NRL clubs must make all players available for representative selection unless there's a valid reason they can't play, most commonly injuries.

The NRL therefore ultimately has the power to step in and force Ponga to play if Mal Meninga wishes to select him. The league also can seek further information and clarification from the Knights and could impose sanctions for the club if there isn't a valid reason. However, it remains to be seen if that is an avenue the NRL will go down.

And veteran journalist Paul Crawley believes the NRL should either fine the Newcastle fullback or ban him from State of Origin selection due to his "disrespect" towards rep footy. “As I understand it the Knights had been informed he would be in the squad, so if it turns out that he didn’t put in a call to the NRL and especially to Mal Meninga, that’s just an absolute show of disrespect and a slap in the face," Crawley said on NRL 360.

“It’s a show of disrespect to the NRL where you’d almost slap him with a fine for bringing the game into disrepute and you wouldn’t let him play Origin next year. If you don’t want to play Tests, well Origin is a selection trial for the Australian team.”