Rugby League World Cup quick hits: Kalyn Ponga, Tonga’s triumph and Fiji’s day in the sun

The first week of the Rugby League World Cup is in the books with stars new and old making statements across the tournament.

From the classic opener between Australia and New Zealand to Tonga’s statement win over England and Papua New Guinea’s handy victory over Lebanon there’s plenty for the international football fan to sink their teeth into.

Here are the quick hits from the opening round.

1. Kalyn Ponga holds New Zealand’s hopes in his hands

Over the past few months Kalyn Ponga has made a transformation from someone who can play great into a great player and if his World Cup is over due to a broken arm not only will the tournament be far poorer without him he might take New Zealand’s title hopes home with him.

Ponga was magnificent in his Kiwi debut on Friday night, scoring two tries and running for 254 metres as he continued the form that helped drive Newcastle to the grand final earlier this month.

His battles with Australia’s Reece Walsh will take some beating as the defining memory from the entire World Cup even as New Zealand fell to a frustrating defeat where they dominated every major stat but the scoreboard.

Ponga has undergone surgery and will remain in camp but if his transcendent year is over, things might have peaked early for the Kiwis.

Keano Kini, a fine fullback in his own right, was terrific in New Zealand’s Pacific Championship win last year and has the work rate and running game to break any match open.

But he is not Kalyn Ponga, who is not rare but unique. That means there’s nobody else like him.

2. Speed can kill for lightning Samoan backline

It’s a measure of the depth Samoa enjoy that Su’a Fa’alogo, Melbourne’s player of the year and one of the most dynamic attacking weapons in the sport, could only crack a bench spot for their first match.

Even so, Samoa proved they could strike from anywhere at any time and through almost any player — Jermaine McEwan’s 50 metre solo effort will be one of the best efforts of the entire World Cup.

But after Fa’alogo was pitched into the action early following an injury to Deine Mariner and finished with four tries, three try assists and seven linebreaks in this thumping victory it’s clear he can act as the Toa’s wildcard as they look to emulate 2022’s brilliant run to the final.

Just where the Storm fullback fits into the side remains to be seen — Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow is a brilliant fullback in his own right and Fa’alogo’s unfamiliarity with playing wing could be targeted by more dangerous opposition.

But speed can kill and when Fa’alogo is out there Samoa have enough to run and gun with anybody.

3. Future is now for Papua New Guinea

The looming presence of the PNG Chiefs is the subtext beneath every Papua New Guinea game in this World Cup and after this impressive win it seems they’ve landed a good one in Gairo Voro.

The 23-year old five-eighth is coming off a monster season with London Broncos in the English second division, where he scored 39 tries in 31 games to claim the competition’s player of the year award.

He took that good form into this victory, scoring a long range try and creating another with his speed and footwork standing out against a Cedars side with plenty of NRL experience.

Tapping into as much local talent as possible will be crucial and if Voro’s improvement continues very well could be one of their early success stories.

4. Powerful Tongan statement a long time coming

Tonga’s fourth win over a Tier 1 nation is by far their most dominant — the margin of victory is just one point more than the combined margin of all three previous wins.

Even though they’ve won just one of their past nine matches, have been building to a dominant performance like this for some time.

All nine of those games were against Australia, England, New Zealand or Samoa, and Tonga are now experience the gain from the pain of those defeats.

The attacking cohesion between regulars like Isaiya Katoa, Haumole Olakau’atu and veteran Tui Lolohea was plain to see, as was the defensive combinations that held England to just two tries despite enjoying far better of the field position, and shows that the benefits of regular matches extends beyond than simply winning and losing.

Tonga have hit the ground running but will still have improvement in them. With a semi-final spot essentially at their mercy after this win, it’s a good spot to be in.

England, by contrast, have paid the price for the same flaw that cost them in last year’s Ashes series — a lack of spark inside the attacking 20. They’ve scored just 30 points across their past four matches and their inability to strike has them on the verge of their earliest ever World Cup exit.

5. Fiji makes hay while the sun shines

With matches against Australia and New Zealand to come this might be as good as it gets for Fiji in this World Cup but you’d be hard-pressed to find a better day in the sun for the Bati than their opener against the Cook Islands.

After their women’s side, the Bulikula, came within a whisker of pulling off a remarkable upset against New Zealand in just their ninth match ever they lined the tunnel to sing the men’s team onto the field as they were led out by Fiji legend Akuila Uate carrying the national flag.

It was a potent mix of past and future combining in the present and didn’t just Fiji duly responded, they looked good doing it.

Halves Kurt Donogohoe and Brandon Wakeham, who both played in last year’s Pacific Bowl tournament together, showed the benefits of their combination with five try assists between them and Manly lock Caleb Navale was excellent in the middle of the field.

There will be harder matches to come but expect Fiji to hold the gloves up.

They haven’t played a Tier 1 nation since the last World Cup but they have the talent, experience and cohesion to make Australia sweat for at least a little while.