Kalyn Ponga will undergo surgery after breaking his arm during New Zealand’s Rugby League World Cup defeat to Australia. The full-back suffered the injury in a collision with Kangaroos stand-off Cameron Munster and was forced off the field in obvious pain, having managed to play through much of the second half.
The 28-year-old scored a spectacular try in the opening match of the tournament in Sydney but could not continue after the injury. New Zealand’s team doctor Greg Macleod confirmed Ponga’s operation on Friday, saying, "We wish Kalyn all the best with his surgery today. We'll see how that goes but for now he will remain in camp."
The severity of the injury puts Ponga’s participation in the remainder of the World Cup in doubt. New Zealand have not officially ruled him out of the tournament, but the player faces a race against time to recover ahead of the final scheduled for 15 October.
New Zealand’s next match is against the Cook Islands on home soil at the new Te Kaha Stadium in Christchurch. They follow that with a game against Fiji on the Gold Coast. The Kiwis remain well placed to advance, with the top two teams in Pool A moving on to the semi-finals.
Ponga’s injury comes at a difficult moment for New Zealand, who are still adjusting to the loss of their full-back while trying to maintain momentum in the tournament. The team’s medical and coaching staff will monitor his recovery closely as they prepare for the upcoming fixtures.
According to Yahoo Sports.
