Just a few months after turning down a Kangaroos call-up to prioritise club football with Newcastle, Ponga has agreed to play for the Maori against the Indigenous side at CommBank Stadium on Saturday, February 15.
The fullback's inclusion is greatly needed given the Adam Blair-coached Maori are without Jahrome Hughes, Brandon Smith and Joe Tapine.
Nicho Hynes, Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker are also missing from the Indigenous outfit but the side has been boosted by the inclusion of Dolphins fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and rising South Sydney flyer Tyrone Munro.
The women's Indigenous team, who will play earlier in the day, includes Dally M medallist Olivia Kernick, while former Golden Boot winner Raecene McGregor is the headline inclusion for the Maori.
INDIGENOUS AND MAORI ALL STARS SQUADS
Saturday 15 February - Women - kick-off: 5.50pm, Men - kick-off: 8.10pm.
Indigenous men: Jacob Alick-Wiencke, Jayden Campbell, Joshua Curran, Tallis Duncan, Brian Kelly, Josh Kerr, Alofiana Khan-Pereira, Dylan Lucas, Shaquai Mitchell, Tyrone Munro, Brent Naden, Hohepa Puru, Niwhai Puru, Ethan Roberts, Blake Steep, Jayden Sullivan, Jacob Sykes, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Connor Watson, Jack Wighton.
Maori men: Jesse Arthars, Zach Dockar-Clay, James Fisher-Harris, Dane Gagai, Mawene Hiroti, Royce Hunt, Keano Kini, Jacob Laban, Jeremy Marshall-King, Jesse McLean, Kurtis Morrin, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Adam Pompey, Kalyn Ponga, Jordan Riki, Jazz Tevaga, Leo Thompson, Taine Tuaupiki, William Warbrick, Xavier Willison.
Indigenous women: Essay Banu, Jaime Chapman, Bree Chester, Nakia Davis-Welsh, Kirra Dibb, Quincy Dodd, Monique Donovan, Taliah Fuimaono, Tallisha Harden, Keilee Joseph, Tommaya Kelly-Sines, Grace Kemp, Olivia Kernick, Ella Koster, Bobbi Law, Evah McEwen, Lailani Montgomery, Mahalia Murphy, Jasmine Peters, Taneka Todhunter.
Maori women: Lilly-Ann White, Annessa Biddle, Harata Butler, Kennedy Cherrington, Reuben Cherrington, Laikha Clarke, Zali Fay, Najvada George, Taneisha Gray, Tyla King, Shannon Mato, Kerehitina Matua, Raecene McGregor, Shanice Parker, Rima Pirini Butler, Ashleigh Quinlan, Tiana Raftstrand-Smith, Jasmin Strange, Pauline Suli-Ruka, Chante Temara.
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