Cows get most talented 15yo Kalyn Ponga

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mozgrame

Engorged member
Chris Garry •
The Courier-Mail •
January 01, 2014 11:00PM



MEET the most talented 15-year-old athlete in Australia, a red-head whiz-kid chased by six professional clubs across an incredible four sports.

Kalyn Ponga said no to the Brisbane Lions, Queensland Reds, Brisbane Broncos, Sydney Roosters, Melbourne Storm and even ignored a lucrative golf career.

Showing the maturity required to fulfil potential Ponga eventually chose the North Queensland Cowboys as moving to Townsville was best for his family.

A gifted fullback, the Anglican Church Grammar (Churchie) student is already being compared to former pupil Karmichael Hunt.

Ponga broke records in 2012, becoming just the second under-14 player to be chosen for Australia's under-15 league team.

He will be Churchie's First XV fullback this year and Queensland Reds scouts were desperate to keep him in union.

The Brisbane Lions nearly convinced him to commit to Aussie Rules after he starred in their under-18 academy.

Ponga was fast-tracked to the Australian Institute of Sport's Aussie Rules program in Canberra and was rated so highly senior AFL officials were involved in trying to commit him to the Sherrin.

The Broncos, who had Ponga on scholarship last year, offered a four-year deal including a guaranteed place in their NRL squad for 2017.

Oh and Ponga was also the under-13 golf champion of New Zealand, taking out the national tournament in 2010 with a handicap of nine.

However, beyond incredible athleticism is a humble kid who has been through the worst life has to offer and emerged as a credit to his family.

In 2006, Ponga's 18-month-old younger brother Kacey was killed in an accident near Mt Isa prompting the family to move to New Zealand where his father Andre was born.

Kalyn's grandmother and auntie still live in Mount Isa and the four-year Cowboys deal allows them to reunite.

"Kalyn's chosen what is best for his family," Andre said.

"A lot of our family is in Mt Isa so we won't be far away in Townsville. We used to live there but when we lost our son we moved back to New Zealand.

"The Cowboys deal just made sense.

"Everyone was trying to get a piece of him.

"He was going to wait a year and then decide whether he would go the AFL path or stay with league but we wanted to just get it sorted.

"This has given us a sense of relief."

The Lions scouted Ponga at a representative league game last year which led to one on one tutoring and a recommended to AFL officials that he was a potential midfield star.

But last month the Cowboys made an offer too good to refuse.

"Townsville is sort of home for us and we already had plans to move there and for me I'll do whatever is best for our family," Ponga said.

"I had my mind set on signing with the Broncos but everything changed in the last two months with the AFL.

"I started thinking about playing in the AFL but when the Cowboys offer came I thought I need to keep to my dream and make it in league."
 
RE: North Queensland Cowboys sign most talented 15-year-old in Australia - Kalyn Ponga

This story sucks.

Snow is pretty.

Snow is not footy related, please now move thread to some other forum.

I am the very model of a modern major general.
 
RE: North Queensland Cowboys sign most talented 15-year-old in Australia - Kalyn Ponga

Probably the next Karl Filiga
 
RE: North Queensland Cowboys sign most talented 15-year-old in Australia - Kalyn Ponga

As long as he's not the next Josh Hannay. Should be interesting to see how he goes over the next few years. It'll be easy enough to remember his name.
 
RE: North Queensland Cowboys sign most talented 15-year-old in Australia - Kalyn Ponga

He can play golf ?

Did he look at the earning potential of each sport ?
And weigh up the toll on the body ?
Or the length of any potential career ?

Obviously not the sharpest tool in the shed. Guess it explains the decision to join the Cowgirls.
 
RE: North Queensland Cowboys sign most talented 15-year-old in Australia - Kalyn Ponga

simon64 said:
He can play golf ?

Did he look at the earning potential of each sport ?
And weigh up the toll on the body ?
Or the length of any potential career ?

Obviously not the sharpest tool in the shed. Guess it explains the decision to join the Cowgirls.

Yeah that's right Simon. What a blunt tool. Fancy being a 15 year old and wanting to do what's best for your family. Playing for the Cowboys just so your family can all be close. What an idiot!! Go for the big bucks Kalyn. Forget your dream of making it in league and chase down the money mate! Your family obviously want to milk you for all it's worth, so don't let them down by joining the Cowboys. Golf mate, golf!!!

Well that's my sarcasm all spent for the day. Did you pick up on any of it Simon?? I was laying it on pretty thick.
 
RE: North Queensland Cowboys sign most talented 15-year-old in Australia - Kalyn Ponga

mozgrame said:
simon64 said:
He can play golf ?

Did he look at the earning potential of each sport ?
And weigh up the toll on the body ?
Or the length of any potential career ?

Obviously not the sharpest tool in the shed. Guess it explains the decision to join the Cowgirls.

Yeah that's right Simon. What a blunt tool. Fancy being a 15 year old and wanting to do what's best for your family. Playing for the Cowboys just so your family can all be close. What an idiot!! Go for the big bucks Kalyn. Forget your dream of making it in league and chase down the money mate! Your family obviously want to milk you for all it's worth, so don't let them down by joining the Cowboys. Golf mate, golf!!!

Well that's my sarcasm all spent for the day. Did you pick up on any of it Simon?? I was laying it on pretty thick.

No I'm glad you pointed out the sarcasm.

I doubt he'd be traveling the world just yet.

I stand by my point. If he's good enough (and he may well just be a good golfer not a great one), he would better off swinging a club.

His body will thank him when he's 40.
 
RE: North Queensland Cowboys sign most talented 15-year-old in Australia - Kalyn Ponga

simon64 said:
mozgrame said:
simon64 said:
He can play golf ?

Did he look at the earning potential of each sport ?
And weigh up the toll on the body ?
Or the length of any potential career ?

Obviously not the sharpest tool in the shed. Guess it explains the decision to join the Cowgirls.

Yeah that's right Simon. What a blunt tool. Fancy being a 15 year old and wanting to do what's best for your family. Playing for the Cowboys just so your family can all be close. What an idiot!! Go for the big bucks Kalyn. Forget your dream of making it in league and chase down the money mate! Your family obviously want to milk you for all it's worth, so don't let them down by joining the Cowboys. Golf mate, golf!!!

Well that's my sarcasm all spent for the day. Did you pick up on any of it Simon?? I was laying it on pretty thick.

No I'm glad you pointed out the sarcasm.

I doubt he'd be traveling the world just yet.

I stand by my point. If he's good enough (and he may well just be a good golfer not a great one), he would better off swinging a club.

His body will thank him when he's 40.

Yeah I know and agree about the wear and tear on his body, but would you try to convince him to give up his "dream" just for the sake of money? I doubt very, very much that he and his family have somehow overlooked the maths on this.

It is your point, and you are more than entitled to it, but labelling a 15 year old "not the sharpest tool in the shed" for making a decision that he believes right, for the sake of his family and himself, seems a little over the top. I think it shows a great deal of maturity on his part. Most 15 year olds seem way more concerned with texting, facebook, playstation, xbox, boyfriends, girlfriends and way above all else, themselves to worry too much about family.

But that's just my opinion. Enough said.
 
RE: North Queensland Cowboys sign most talented

Oh I am so gunna force my kid into golf! Millions of bucks and play competitively until you're about 50 then go onto the lucrative seniors tour.

:cool:

*also to moz, your title is too long and makes posting in the thread a pain!
 
Cheers GE. I have emailed the Courier Mail and they have assured me they will shorten the length of titles for future articles. I didn't realise it may cause some problems because I've never had length issues before. ;)
 
mozgrame said:
Cheers GE. I have emailed the Courier Mail and they have assured me they will shorten the length of titles for future articles. I didn't realise it may cause some problems because I've never had length issues before. ;)

I'm with you there. *500th like given = cookie for me.
 
News Flash: He is seeing a specialist as he is dreaming of winning premierships but cannot work out why he is always in a maroon & white jersey.........
 
simon64 said:
He can play golf ?

Did he look at the earning potential of each sport ?
And weigh up the toll on the body ?
Or the length of any potential career ?

Obviously not the sharpest tool in the shed. Guess it explains the decision to join the Cowgirls.

Simple Simon
 
globaleagle said:
I'm with you there. *500th like given = cookie for me.
500 pfttt. You are too busy collecting the likes to recognise the talent* all around you.



* admittedly well-hidden at times ;)
 
Brookie said:
there is always a new talented 15 yo around the corner (that will never amount to anything)

True that. We've all seen them.
I have a soft spot for one coming through at the broncos atm.:( Great kid, and his old man is the new u/20's coach and junior development manager at the Titans. (can't wait to see how that turns out !lol)
You don't want to put the mocker on the kid, but geez he can play.:)
 
SeaEagleRock8 said:
globaleagle said:
I'm with you there. *500th like given = cookie for me.
500 pfttt. You are too busy collecting the likes to recognise the talent* all around you.



* admittedly well-hidden at times ;)

Gee SER8, I never realised until now, just how many likes that you have given out. I had only noticed HappilyManly and I had given out so many :)
 
Fluffy is the like giving king. It has to be piss your pants and pass out laughing funny for Fluffy to part with one of his likes. :D
 

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