Ahead of the Trans-Tasman Test next week, the Kiwis look to have had their first loss to the Kangaroos for the year over Cowboys prodigy Kalyn Ponga.
The Courier Mail is reporting that New Zealand management has been informed that Ponga has committed his future to Queensland and the Kangaroos.
Since the beginning of the season, Ponga has refused to speculate about his representative future despite being eligible to play for both Australia and New Zealand.
Facing pressure from teammates including Cowboys captain Johnathan Thurston who has previously said Ponga will "definitely" commit to Australia, Kiwis management reportedly revealed on Monday that they've been told he will not be playing for New Zealand.
Queensland State of Origin coach Kevin Walters left the 19-year-old out of this year's Emerging Origin Camp with Walters suggesting he was undecided the last time he'd spoken to him.
"I haven't heard anything," Walters said.
"We have left Kalyn alone. He wasn't sure what he wanted to do.
"He's got to go where his heart is and who he feels the most allegiance to. That's where he belongs."
While the decision was expected, it's a big blow for the Kiwis who identified Ponga as a potential inclusion for the end of year Rugby League World Cup. He also would have potentially been considered for the wider squad for the ANZAC Test on May 5.
Ponga will remain with the Cowboys until the end of the NRL season before heading south to the Knights with whom he signed a whopping five-year deal with worth $NZ3.23 million last year.
Newshub.
