Kalyn Ponga back on bench three weeks after broken arm

New Zealand have selected Kalyn Ponga to sit on the bench for their Rugby League World Cup semi‑final against Tonga, just three weeks after he suffered a forearm fracture. Hooker Phoenix Crossland is also being considered after serving a four‑match suspension for the tackle that ruled Nathan Cleary out of the tournament.

Ponga fractured his arm on 15 October during the opening match, which New Zealand lost to Australia 24‑22. He remained on the field for roughly 20 minutes before undergoing surgery. Head coach Stacey Jones had earlier said he hoped the full‑back would recover in time for a potential final on 15 November.

Crossland missed the entire group stage while his ban was in effect. The Newcastle Knights player was sent off for a ‘hip‑drop’ tackle on Australia’s Nathan Cleary on 27 September, an incident that left Cleary with a compound fracture and a dislocated left ankle, ending his World Cup campaign. Crossland later apologised to Cleary, missed the NRL Grand Final and sat out all three of New Zealand’s group games.

Both athletes were initially listed as reserves for the Tonga clash in Newcastle, New South Wales (09:05 GMT). On Friday, Jones promoted Ponga into the 19‑man match‑day squad and indicated that Crossland would also be included.

Tonga, who knocked England out by beating them 30‑12 on 17 October, kept the same lineup from their last group match. They topped Group B‑C with a 20‑18 win over Samoa and will aim to repeat their 2017 group‑stage triumph over New Zealand. In the other semi‑final, reigning champions Australia face Samoa in Sydney on Sunday (09:05 GMT), with Reece Walsh retaining the full‑back spot ahead of James Tedesco, while Samoa bring Ronald Volkman in at stand‑off after Chanel Harris‑Tavita withdrew with a hamstring injury.