Kiwis confirm Ponga broke arm in World Cup opener, will need surgery

The Kiwis have confirmed fullback Kalyn Ponga broke his arm in last night's Rugby League World Cup opener and will undergo surgery. Ponga, who received clearance earlier this year to switch his allegiance to New Zealand, scored two tries as <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/10/16/rugby-league-kangaroos-edge-kiwis-in-world-cup-classic/">his side fell to a 24-22 defeat</a> to Australia on the opening night of the tournament. The 28-year-old broke the radius in his left arm and was booked in for surgery today. “We’ll see how that goes but, for now, he will remain in camp,” team doctor Greg Macleod said. Newcastle captain Ponga is viewed as critical to the <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/10/07/knights-stars-to-make-kiwis-debuts-in-squad-of-brutes/">Kiwis' hopes</a> of claiming their first World Cup since 2008. But coach Stacey Jones, whose side will face the Cook Islands in Christchurch next week before wrapping up their group stages matches against Fiji, said: "He couldn't catch a ball or anything like that.