Kalyn Ponga, wearing a black jersey with a white V and a black scrum capImage source, Getty Images
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Kalyn Ponga helped Newcastle Knights reach October's NRL Grand Final

ByElizabeth BotcherbyBBC Sport journalist

"He's a tough character and he was so adamant he was playing."

Kalyn Ponga, in the words of his head coach Stacey Jones, was never going to miss New Zealand's Rugby League World Cup semi-final.

But it was a remarkable return to action for a player whose tournament turned from dream to nightmare just over three weeks ago.