Kini looks to run hot while keeping KP's seat warm

Don't write off Kalyn Ponga.

That's the message from the man who filled the superstar fullback's boots for the Kiwis against Cook Islands last week and will do again in Saturday's clash with Fiji.

Ponga broke his arm in the tournament opener against Australia but stayed on the field for another 20 minutes before finally succumbing.

That opened the door for Titans flyer Keano Kini, who ran for 183 metres and broke eight tackles in the win over Cook Islands.

“Knowing how tough Kalyn is and he stayed on for 20 minutes with a broken arm, it wouldn’t surprise me if he’s back in the next game or so,” Kini said.

“KP is looking good, and hopefully he can come back in the next few games and help us try and win the World Cup.”

Kiwis coach Stacey Jones is also giving Ponga every opportunity to make a miracle comeback, after the fullback refused to rule himself out when he first suffered the injury.

“When he did the injury, we thought his tournament was over, and he was like, ‘I’m coming back'," Jones said.

“When a player’s got that mindset, and that calibre of player, you give them every chance.”

For now, the No.1 jersey belongs to Kini, who will take on Fiji at Cbus Super Stadium on Saturday with a semi-final berth on the line.

It is a homecoming for the 22-year-old, who moved from Auckland to the Gold Coast at 16, attending rugby league powerhouse Palm Beach Currumbin State High School before joining the Titans.

“To play at the home stadium I play at week to week is pretty special and to play in front of my family and friends,” Kini said.

“I’m very excited. It’s my second home now and it’s given me an opportunity after moving from Auckland to here on the Gold Coast, Palm Beach Currumbin school and to here now. It’s been an awesome journey.”

Kini made his NRL debut in 2023 and got his first taste of international football the following season in the Pacific Championships.

In 2025 he played a starring role in New Zealand's win over Samoa in the Pac Champs final and now finds himself in the No.1 jersey again for the do-or-die showdown with the Bati.

Kini is keen to build on last week's mixed performance against Cook Islands in his first match since the Titans' Round 27 loss to the Dolphins on September 4.

“I was a bit disappointed in obviously some of the intercepts and some of the mistakes I made last week,” he said.

“I had a little bit of grace in myself trying to iron out those things after not playing for a while. I know my job this weekend and I’m really keen to try and lift my game.”

Kini is confident he can handle the responsibility as New Zealand looks to book its place in the semi-finals.

“I’m always confident in myself, and I know that I can do a job. I’m just looking forward to playing Fiji this weekend and trying to do the best for the brothers," he said.

“It’s my proudest achievement to play for the Kiwis and put on the New Zealand jumper, especially in a World Cup.”

Jones backed Kini to deliver against Fiji, pointing to his ability to bounce back after a few mistakes in last week’s win over Cook Islands. 

“He’s a wonderful player for us. What he did for this team last year, and look, he hadn’t played for a while and he had a couple of rusty moments, but he bounced back,” Jones said.

“He’s a pretty good replacement to have for Kalyn, and we know that if Kalyn isn’t there, we’ve got a really good player.”