Speaking to 2GB’s Alan Jones, the Maroons skipper said Ponga made a beeline for the legendary leader.

“He’s an absolute gentleman. He’s just so polite, so respectful off the field,” Inglis said.

“First day in camp he walked straight over to me, shook my hand and said ‘Hey I’m Kalyn’.

“I said, ‘don’t worry mate, I know who you are’.

“Football speaks volumes of him but away from the field I see him around camp and he’s nice, he’s a shy kid, but he’s always got time to say hello and have a chat.”

Ponga will start from the bench in his debut which will be played in front of over 80,000 mad New South Wales fans.