Kalyn Ponga to undergo surgery after broken arm in World Cup loss

New Zealand fullback Kalyn Ponga will undergo surgery after breaking the radius in his left arm during the Kiwis' 24-22 Rugby League World Cup defeat to Australia. The injury occurred in the second half at Allianz Stadium in Sydney when Ponga collided with Kangaroos five-eighth Cameron Munster.

Despite the injury, the 28-year-old played for approximately 20 minutes, scoring two tries before being replaced by Keano Kini in the 70th minute. Ponga's performance included a 45m solo try where he fended off Munster while playing through significant discomfort.

Kiwis coach Stacey Jones noted that Ponga was unable to catch the ball due to the injury but remained upbeat about staying involved with the team. While the team has not officially ruled him out of the tournament, the final is scheduled for 15 November, only four weeks away.

The Kiwis will face the Cook Islands in Christchurch next week before playing Fiji. If Ponga is unavailable for the remainder of the competition, New Zealand may seek clearance to add an extra player to their squad.

How it developed

• Fri 16 Oct, 9:01amThe Kiwis confirmed Ponga broke his radius and is booked for surgery.
• Fri 16 Oct, 3:11pmTeam doctor Greg Macleod confirmed Ponga will remain in camp following his surgery.

Where reports differ

• One report states Ponga's solo try involved him fending off Munster, while another describes it as a masterclass in side-stepping

Compiled from reports by The Post, NZ Herald, 1News and Stuff.