Lord Derby Cup
Pongia later played for the Canberra Raiders. He also became a New Zealand international and was selected to go on the 1993 New Zealand rugby league tour of Great Britain and France, playing in all five test matches. He played at the 1995 Rugby League World Cup. Pongia played for the Auckland Warriors and was the NZRL player of the year in 1998. He joined the Sydney Roosters of the National Rugby League before heading to France. Pongia went to France as player coach of Paris Chattilon, but it didn't work out and he moved to Villeneuve, winning both the Championship and the Lord Derby Cup with the club.